Controlled release fertilizer delivery system derived from rice straw cellulose nanofibres: a circular economy based solution for sustainable development

ABSTRACT

Recently, the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly biomaterials has gained the attention of researchers as potential alternatives to petroleum-based materials. Biomaterials are a promising candidate to mitigate sustainability issues due to their renewability, biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore a cost-effective biomaterial-based delivery system for delivering fertilizers to plants. To achieve this, rice straw (agro-waste) was selected as a raw material for the extraction of cellulose. The cellulose was extracted through alkali treatment (12% NaOH), followed by TEMPO-based oxidation. The cellulose nanofibers were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In scanning electron microscopy, a loosening of the fibrillar structure in cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) was observed with a diameter of 17 ± 4 nm. The CNFs were loaded with nitrogen-based fertilizer (ammonium chloride) in 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 (w/w) proportions. The loading was estimated through surface charge variation; in the case of the 1:1 sample, maximum reductions in surface charge were seen from −42.0 mV to −12.8 mV due to the binding of positive ammonium ions. In the release kinetics study, a controlled release pattern was observed at 1:1, which showed a 58% cumulative release of ammonium ions within 8 days. Thus, the study paves the way for value-added uses of rice straw as an alternative to the current environmentally harmful practices.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

• Bio-based cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from rice straw via circular economy approach.

• Controlled release fertilizers for sustainable agriculture.

• Nanotechnology for precision agriculture and decarbonization via agricultural waste management.

KEYWORDS:

• Rice straw
• cellulose nanofibres
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
• scanning electron microscopy
• Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis
• loading and release kinetics

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, for providing all infrastructural, analytical, and financial support as an incubation center at the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre (TDNBC), TERI, India. The SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board) and DBT (Department of Biotechnology), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, are duly acknowledged for providing the funding and other economic assistance (SRG/2020/001306).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The draft of the manuscript was written by NS. All authors thoroughly reviewed and approved the manuscript.

Availability of data

Data openly available in a public repository that issues datasets with DOIs.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2023.2242124.

Additional information

Funding

The SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board) and DBT (Department of Biotechnology), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, are duly acknowledged for providing the funding and other economic assistance (SRG/2020/001306).