Absorption of Siderite within a Chemically Modified Poly(Lactic Acid) based Composite Material for Agricultural Applications

NANCY LIS GARCIA; MIRTA FASCIO; MARIA INES ERREA; ALAIN DUFRESNE; SILVIA GOYANES; NORMA B. D'ACCORSO

JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS

Lugar: New York; Año: 2018

1566-2543

Iron is an essential micronutrient for higher plants. Although abundant in most soils, Fe3+ is notavailable for plant uptake, because of its poor solubility. Ferrous sulfate is a fertilizer used forcrops but, Fe2+ is readily oxidized to the plant-unavailable ferric form. It is therefore important toprovide Fe2 + to plants, minimizing the loss of this nutrient by oxidation in Fe3 +. This paperreports the development of a composite material consisting of a matrix (PLARAM), obtained bythe chemical modification of poly (lactic acid), capable of retaining ferrous carbonate (Siderite)within PLARAM (PLARAMFe). From the matrix, Fe2+is released into the soil, enhancing itsbioavailability. PLARAM and PLARAMFe films were obtained and their water wettability wasstudied. One side of the films was more hydrophilic than the other, turning this materialattractive as a protective film when it is necessary to avoid loss of humidity.