Starch-based hydrogel loading with carbendazim for controlled-release and water absorption.

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Agricultural Chemistry

Background:

• Starch is an abundant, eco-friendly natural polymer.
• Hydrogels offer potential for controlled release and water absorption.
• Carbendazim is a fungicide requiring controlled delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop starch-based hydrogels as carriers for carbendazim.
• To investigate the influence of water absorption (WA) on carbendazim release.
• To evaluate the hydrogels' performance as soil water-holding enhancers.

Main Methods:

• Solution polymerization to synthesize carbendazim-loaded hydrogels (CLHs).
• Characterization using FTIR, SEM, and LC-MS/MS.
• Carbendazim release kinetics studied via (14)C-labeling in deionized water (ddH2O).
• Evaluation of hydrogel impact on soil water-holding capacity (WHC).

Main Results:

• Starch-based CLHs demonstrated controlled release of carbendazim.
• Release longevity reached 240 hours with 800 g/g WA in ddH2O.
• Lower pH resulted in a decreased carbendazim release rate.
• Soil WHC increased by 8.2% with CLH addition (1.3 g/kg soil).

Conclusions:

• Starch-based CLH functions as an effective controlled-release agent for carbendazim.
• These hydrogels exhibit excellent water absorption properties.
• The developed materials show promise for agricultural applications, improving soil moisture retention.