Tariq Zaryab, Iqbal Dure Najaf, Rizwan Muhammad, Ahmad Muhammad, Faheem Muhammad, Ahmed Mahmood
Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore Lahore Pakistan
Department of Chemistry, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education Lahore 54770 Pakistan
RSC Adv. 2023 Aug 18;13(35):24731-24754. doi: 10.1039/d3ra03472k. eCollection 2023 Aug 11.
Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymer networks that are hydrophilic and capable of retaining a large amount of water. Hydrogels also can act as vehicles for the controlled delivery of active compounds. Bio-polymers are polymers that are derived from natural sources. Hydrogels prepared from biopolymers are considered non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and cost-effective. Therefore, bio-polymeric hydrogels are being extensively synthesized and used all over the world. Hydrogels based on biopolymers finds important applications in the agricultural field where they are used as soil conditioning agents as they can increase the water retention ability of soil and can act as a carrier of nutrients and other agrochemicals. Hydrogels are also used for the controlled delivery of fertilizer to plants. In this review, bio-polymeric hydrogels based on starch, chitosan, guar gum, gelatin, lignin, and alginate polymer have been discussed in terms of their synthesis method, swelling behavior, and possible agricultural application. The urgency to address water scarcity and the need for sustainable water management in agriculture necessitate the exploration and implementation of innovative solutions. By understanding the synthesis techniques and factors influencing the swelling behavior of these hydrogels, we can unlock their full potential in fostering sustainable agriculture and mitigating the challenges posed by an ever-changing environment.
水凝胶是三维聚合物网络，具有亲水性且能够保留大量水分。水凝胶还可以作为活性化合物控释的载体。生物聚合物是源自天然来源的聚合物。由生物聚合物制备的水凝胶被认为是无毒、生物相容、可生物降解且具有成本效益的。因此，生物聚合物水凝胶正在全球范围内被广泛合成和使用。基于生物聚合物的水凝胶在农业领域有重要应用，它们被用作土壤改良剂，因为它们可以提高土壤的保水能力，并可作为养分和其他农用化学品的载体。水凝胶还用于向植物控释肥料。在这篇综述中，基于淀粉、壳聚糖、瓜尔胶、明胶、木质素和藻酸盐聚合物的生物聚合物水凝胶在其合成方法、溶胀行为和可能的农业应用方面进行了讨论。应对水资源短缺的紧迫性以及农业中可持续水资源管理的需求，使得探索和实施创新解决方案成为必要。通过了解这些水凝胶的合成技术和影响其溶胀行为的因素，我们可以充分发挥它们在促进可持续农业和应对不断变化的环境所带来的挑战方面的潜力。
