Adsorption and controlled release of potassium, phosphate and ammonia from modified Arabic gum-based hydrogel

In this work, a modified Arabic gum-based hydrogel copolymerized with acrylamide was synthesized and characterized for application in adsorption and controlled release of potassium, phosphate and ammonia. From FT-IR results, it would be reasonable to assume that the hydrogel was effectively synthesized. The degree of swelling at pure water with pH 6.0 was 21.0g water per g dried hydrogel whereas the degrees of swelling at buffer solutions with pH 4.5 and 7.0 were 7.2 and 9.2g water per g dried hydrogel, respectively. The water diffusion mechanism was governed by Fickian transport with tendency to occur macromolecular relaxation. The adsorption capacities of potassium, phosphate and ammonia were higher by increasing the initial concentrations due to availability of active sites in the hydrogel network, nutrient size and ionic charge. Potassium, phosphate and ammonia concentrations released from the modified Arabic gum-based hydrogel increased by increasing the release time from 0 to 1440min. Release profiles indicated that this hydrogel could be applied for the enrichment and hydration of deserted soil, avoiding losses of nutrients by leaching and percolation, with an advantage of being constituted by an eco-friendly polysaccharide.