Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer Formulations

Urea controlled release fertilizer (CRF) was prepared via kaolinite intercalation followed by gum arabic encapsulation in an attempt to reduce its severe losses associated with dissolution, hydrolysis, and diffusion. Following the beneficiation, the nonkaolinite fraction decreased from 39.58% to 0.3...

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Main Authors: Siafu Ibahati Sempeho, Hee Taik Kim, Egid Mubofu, Alexander Pogrebnoi, Godlisten Shao, Askwar Hilonga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Journal of Chemistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/237397
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author Siafu Ibahati Sempeho
Hee Taik Kim
Egid Mubofu
Alexander Pogrebnoi
Godlisten Shao
Askwar Hilonga
author_facet Siafu Ibahati Sempeho
Hee Taik Kim
Egid Mubofu
Alexander Pogrebnoi
Godlisten Shao
Askwar Hilonga
author_sort Siafu Ibahati Sempeho
collection DOAJ
description Urea controlled release fertilizer (CRF) was prepared via kaolinite intercalation followed by gum arabic encapsulation in an attempt to reduce its severe losses associated with dissolution, hydrolysis, and diffusion. Following the beneficiation, the nonkaolinite fraction decreased from 39.58% to 0.36% whereas the kaolinite fraction increased from 60.42% to 99.64%. The X-ray diffractions showed that kaolinite was a major phase with FCC Bravais crystal lattice with particle sizes ranging between 14.6 nm and 92.5 nm. The particle size varied with intercalation ratios with methanol intercalated kaolinite > DMSO-kaolinite > urea-kaolinite (KPDMU). Following intercalation, SEM analysis revealed a change of order from thick compact overlapping euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets to irregular booklets which later transformed to vermiform morphology and dispersed euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets. Besides, dispersed euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets were seen to coexist with blocky-vermicular booklets. In addition, a unique brain-form agglomeration which transformed into roundish particles mart was observed after encapsulation. The nanocomposites decomposed between 48 and 600°C. Release profiles showed that 100% of urea was released in 97 hours from KPDMU while 87% was released in 150 hours from the encapsulated nanocomposite. The findings established that it is possible to use Pugu kaolinite and gum arabic biopolymer to prepare urea CRF formulations.
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spelling doaj-art-bd75f111b2d74665ab9b8226d1c99d682025-08-20T03:23:31ZengWileyJournal of Chemistry2090-90632090-90712015-01-01201510.1155/2015/237397237397Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer FormulationsSiafu Ibahati Sempeho0Hee Taik Kim1Egid Mubofu2Alexander Pogrebnoi3Godlisten Shao4Askwar Hilonga5Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, TanzaniaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 1271 Sa 3-dong, Sangnok-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do 426-791, Republic of KoreaChemistry Department, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35091, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, TanzaniaDepartment of Chemistry, Mkwawa College of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 2513, Iringa, TanzaniaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, TanzaniaUrea controlled release fertilizer (CRF) was prepared via kaolinite intercalation followed by gum arabic encapsulation in an attempt to reduce its severe losses associated with dissolution, hydrolysis, and diffusion. Following the beneficiation, the nonkaolinite fraction decreased from 39.58% to 0.36% whereas the kaolinite fraction increased from 60.42% to 99.64%. The X-ray diffractions showed that kaolinite was a major phase with FCC Bravais crystal lattice with particle sizes ranging between 14.6 nm and 92.5 nm. The particle size varied with intercalation ratios with methanol intercalated kaolinite > DMSO-kaolinite > urea-kaolinite (KPDMU). Following intercalation, SEM analysis revealed a change of order from thick compact overlapping euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets to irregular booklets which later transformed to vermiform morphology and dispersed euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets. Besides, dispersed euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets were seen to coexist with blocky-vermicular booklets. In addition, a unique brain-form agglomeration which transformed into roundish particles mart was observed after encapsulation. The nanocomposites decomposed between 48 and 600°C. Release profiles showed that 100% of urea was released in 97 hours from KPDMU while 87% was released in 150 hours from the encapsulated nanocomposite. The findings established that it is possible to use Pugu kaolinite and gum arabic biopolymer to prepare urea CRF formulations.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/237397
spellingShingle Siafu Ibahati Sempeho
Hee Taik Kim
Egid Mubofu
Alexander Pogrebnoi
Godlisten Shao
Askwar Hilonga
Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer Formulations
Journal of Chemistry
title Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer Formulations
title_full Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer Formulations
title_fullStr Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer Formulations
title_full_unstemmed Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer Formulations
title_short Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer Formulations
title_sort encapsulated urea kaolinite nanocomposite for controlled release fertilizer formulations
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/237397
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