Smart and sustainable lignin based delivery systems for agrobiotechnology
Abstract
There is an urgent need for developing novel and sustainable systems to allow controlled delivery of agrochemicals over long periods as well as systems that enable provision of water to crops in order to prevent the negative effects of droughts on crop yields. In view of the fast depletion of ground water reserves, uncertainty of rains of the world over, coupled with the growing food demand due to exponential growth in human population, efficient use of water available for crops has become highly relevant. Hydrogels are characterized by the ability to absorb and retain exceptionally huge amounts of water much greater, in comparison to their weight. This is extremely important since droughts and erratic rainfall patterns attributed to global warming are seriously affecting crop yields even in regions where normal rain is expected. In addition since up to 50 % of nitrogen fertilizer is lost while more than 95% of pesticides and herbicides are released into the environment there is need to develop technologies that guarantees that these agrochemicals do not contaminate the environment. To address these problems current agrochemical delivery and water storage systems are based on non-biodegradable fossil resources whose persistence in the environment are already causing serious environmental pollution problems. Lignin, present in trees (40%) and in agricultural by-products or resulting bioethanol plants is currently under-explored and mainly burned for energy production. Based on these reasons, the major aim of the study is to explore the possibility of producing lignin based biodegradable water and agrochemical controlled release systems using biocatalysts.
lignin Hydrogels biocatalysts
Publikationen
Design of biobased and bioactive fertilizer coatings
Autoren: Weiß, R; Gritsch, S; Brader, G; Nikolic, B; Spiller, M; Santolin, J; Weber, H; Schwaiger, N; Pluchon, S; Dietel, K; Gübitz, G; Nyanhongo, G Jahr: 2021
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Gibson Stephen Nyanhongo
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Gibson Stephen Nyanhongo
g.nyanhongo@boku.ac.at
BOKU Project Leader
01.10.2018 - 30.11.2021
Renate Weiß
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Renate Weiß B.Sc.
renate.weiss@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-97486
Project Staff
01.10.2018 - 30.11.2021