Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 29882

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Interests: soil remediation; water purification; pollutant removal; hydrogel; gel-based fertlizer; natural organicmatter; biogeochemical behavior of pollutants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Interests: soil nitrogen cycling; biogeochemical behavior of pollutants; hydrogel; gel-based fertilizer; soil remediation; organic pollutant removal

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gels (aerogels, hydrogels, etc.) have a huge potential in agricultural and environmental applications due to their abundant porous structure and surface groups, great mechanical strength, excellent design flexibility, and biocompatibility. However, developing functional gels for broader application scenarios and better application effects is still a big challenge.

This Special Issue is focused on the synthesis and characterization of novel functional gel-based materials and their agricultural and environmental application. We look forward to the submission of frontier studies and reviews on the development and application of functional gels in agricultural and environmental fields including, but not limited to, the following topics:

(1) As water-retaining agents to retain soil moisture; as fertilizers to enhance soil nutrients and plants grow, especially slow-release fertilizers; and as recyclable adsorbents to reduce soil pollutants;

(2) Adsorption of poisonous gases, greenhouse gases, heavy metal ions or organic pollutants, haze, dust, microorganisms, etc. In this topic, we believe that peer experts are more interested in the studies on the novel and trace pollutants, combined pollution, or the extreme adsorption conditions (extremely high/low pH or temperature, high saline, etc.);

(3) Self-cleaning, photothermal conversion, energy storage, thermal insulation, environmental sensing or monitoring, etc. Preparation of the DGT device with gel-based materials as the diffusive layer and its application in elements detection is one of the focuses of this Special Issue.

Dr. Yulong Zhang
Dr. Hui-Juan Xu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • gel-based materials
  • adsorbents
  • water-retaining agents
  • fertilizers
  • environment pollution
  • pollutant removal
  • soil nutrients

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 792 KiB  
Article
Germination Study of Some Protein-Based Gels Obtained from By-Products from the Leather Industry on Tomato and Pepper Seeds
by Stelica Cristea, Mihaela-Doina Niculescu, Alina Perisoara, Elena Ivan, Maria Stanca, Cosmin-Andrei Alexe, Bianca-Maria Tihauan and Laura Olariu
Gels 2024, 10(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010075 - 19 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1671
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the biostimulant effects of three protein-based gels, GHC 1-B (20% gelatin (GPU-B) obtained by thermal hydrolysis from residual untanned leather and 80% collagen hydrolysates (HCE-B) obtained by alkaline–enzymatic hydrolysis from residual bovine-tanned leather), GHC 2-B (40% keratin hydrolysate [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the biostimulant effects of three protein-based gels, GHC 1-B (20% gelatin (GPU-B) obtained by thermal hydrolysis from residual untanned leather and 80% collagen hydrolysates (HCE-B) obtained by alkaline–enzymatic hydrolysis from residual bovine-tanned leather), GHC 2-B (40% keratin hydrolysate (HKU-B) obtained by alkaline–enzymatic hydrolysis from sheep wool + 40% HCE-B + 20% GPU-B), and GHC 3-B (20% GPU-B + 80% hydrolyzed collagen (HPU-B) obtained by thermal and enzymatic hydrolysis from residual untanned leather). A germination study was carried out on pepper and tomato seeds at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 10%. As a result of the study, it was found that all three protein-based gels showed a stimulatory effect on the tomato seeds at a 1% concentration, where the Gi (germination index) was ˂100%. The GHC 2-B variant had the highest stimulatory effect (Gi-190.23%). Pepper seeds have proven to be more sensitive to the gel’s composition. The concentration at which it proved to be non-inhibitory (Gi–88.29%) was 1% in the case of GHC 2-B. It was found that the presence of hydrolyzed keratin in the composition can be a plus compared to the other two protein gels tested due to its composition, which is richer in phytonutrient compounds (e.g., sulfur molecules). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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12 pages, 5739 KiB  
Article
nFeS Embedded into Cryogels for High-Efficiency Removal of Cr(VI): From Mechanism to for Treatment of Industrial Wastewater
by Peng Xu and Shaojun Jiang
Gels 2024, 10(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010056 - 11 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1490
Abstract
Most studies have focused on complex strategies for materials preparation instead of industrial wastewater treatment due to emergency treatment requirements for metal pollution. This study evaluated sodium polyacrylate (PSA) as a carbon skeleton and FeS as a functional material to synthesize PSA-nFeS material. [...] Read more.
Most studies have focused on complex strategies for materials preparation instead of industrial wastewater treatment due to emergency treatment requirements for metal pollution. This study evaluated sodium polyacrylate (PSA) as a carbon skeleton and FeS as a functional material to synthesize PSA-nFeS material. The characteristics and interactions of PSA-nFeS composites treated with hexavalent chromium were analyzed by means of various techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Adsorption-coupled reduction was observed to be the predominant mechanism of Cr(VI) removal. The feasibility of PSA-nFeS composites in reducing toxicity and removing of Cr(VI) from real effluents was investigated through column studies and material properties evaluation. The continuous column studies were conducted using tannery effluents to optimize feed flow rates, initial feed Cr(VI) concentration, and column bed height. The results revealed that PSA-nFeS composites are ideal for filling materials in portable filtration devices due to their lightweight and compact size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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20 pages, 3989 KiB  
Article
Cr (VI) and Pb (II) Removal Using Crosslinking Magnetite-Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Chitosan Hydrogel Beads
by Nur Maisarah Mohamad Sarbani, Endar Hidayat, Kanako Naito, Yoshiharu Mitoma and Hiroyuki Harada
Gels 2023, 9(8), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9080612 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1683
Abstract
Heavy metals, such as chromium (VI) and lead (II), are the most common pollutants found in wastewater. To solve these problems, this research was intended to synthesize magnetite hydrogel beads (CMC-CS-Fe3O4) by crosslinking carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) [...] Read more.
Heavy metals, such as chromium (VI) and lead (II), are the most common pollutants found in wastewater. To solve these problems, this research was intended to synthesize magnetite hydrogel beads (CMC-CS-Fe3O4) by crosslinking carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) and impregnating them with iron oxide (Fe3O4) as a potential adsorbent to remove Cr (VI) and Pb (II) from water. CMC-CS-Fe3O4 was characterized by pHzpc, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Batch removal experiments with different variables (CMC:CS ratio, pH, initial metals concentration, and contact time) were conducted, and the results revealed that CMC-CS-Fe3O4 with a CMC:CS (3:1) ratio had the best adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) and Pb (II) at pH levels of 2 and 4, respectively. The findings of this research revealed that the maximum adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) and Pb (II) were 3.5 mg/g and 18.26 mg/g, respectively, within 28 h at 30 . The adsorption isotherm and adsorption kinetics suggested that removal of Cr (VI) and Pb (II) were fitted to Langmuir and pseudo-second orders. The highest desorption percentages for Cr (VI) and Pb (II) were 70.43% and 83.85%, achieved using 0.3 M NaOH and 0.01 M N·a2EDTA, respectively. Interestingly, after the first cycle of the adsorption–desorption process, the hydrogel showed a sudden increase in adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) and Pb (II) until it reached 7.7 mg/g and 33.0 mg/g, respectively. This outcome may have certain causes, such as entrapped metal ions providing easy access to the available sites inside the hydrogel or thinning of the outer layer of the beads leading to greater exposure toward active sites. Hence, CMC-CS-Fe3O4 hydrogel beads may have potential application in Cr (VI) and Pb (II) removal from aqueous solutions for sustainable environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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16 pages, 4145 KiB  
Article
Alginate-Bentonite-Based Hydrogels Designed to Obtain Controlled-Release Formulations of Dodecyl Acetate
by Francisco Flores-Céspedes, Matilde Villafranca-Sánchez and Manuel Fernández-Pérez
Gels 2023, 9(5), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9050388 - 6 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1662
Abstract
Dodecyl acetate (DDA), a volatile compound present in insect sex pheromones, was incorporated into alginate-based granules to obtain controlled-release formulations (CRFs). In this research, not only was the effect of adding bentonite to the basic alginate-hydrogel formulation studied, but also that of the [...] Read more.
Dodecyl acetate (DDA), a volatile compound present in insect sex pheromones, was incorporated into alginate-based granules to obtain controlled-release formulations (CRFs). In this research, not only was the effect of adding bentonite to the basic alginate-hydrogel formulation studied, but also that of the encapsulation efficiency on the release rate of DDA in laboratory and field experiments. DDA encapsulation efficiency increased as the alginate/bentonite ratio increased. From the preliminary volatilization experiments, a linear relationship was found between the DDA release percentage and the amount of bentonite present in the alginate CRFs. Laboratory kinetic volatilization experiments showed that the selected alginate-bentonite formulation (DDAB75A10) exhibited a prolonged DDA release profile. The value of the diffusional exponent obtained from the Ritger and Peppas model (n = 0.818) indicated that the release process follows a non-Fickian or anomalous transport mechanism. Field volatilization experiments showed a steady release of DDA over time from the alginate-based hydrogels tested. This result, together with those obtained from the laboratory release experiments, allowed the obtainment of a set of parameters to improve the preparation of alginate-based CRFs for the use of volatile biological molecules, such as DDA, in agricultural biological control programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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18 pages, 2784 KiB  
Article
Moving towards Gel for Fish Feeding: Focus on Functional Properties and Its Acceptance
by Jham Lal, Pradyut Biswas, Soibam Khogen Singh, Reshmi Debbarma, Naresh Kumar Mehta, Suparna Deb, Sanjeev Sharma, Gusheinzed Waikhom and Arun Bhai Patel
Gels 2023, 9(4), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9040305 - 5 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2044
Abstract
To resurrect and establish a low-impact aquaculture practice, gel-based feed applications hold promise. Gel feed is viscoelastic, nutrient-dense, hard, flexible, and appealing, and can be moulded into appealing shapes to ensure rapid acceptance by fish. The purpose of this research is to create [...] Read more.
To resurrect and establish a low-impact aquaculture practice, gel-based feed applications hold promise. Gel feed is viscoelastic, nutrient-dense, hard, flexible, and appealing, and can be moulded into appealing shapes to ensure rapid acceptance by fish. The purpose of this research is to create a suitable gel feed using various gelling agents and to evaluate its properties and acceptance by a model fish, Pethia conchonius (rosy barb). Three gelling agents, viz. starch, calcium lactate and pectin, were included at 2%, 5%, and 8% in a fish-muscle-based diet. The physical properties of gel feed were standardized using texture profile analysis, sinking velocity, water and gel stability, water holding capacity, proximate composition, and colour. The lowest levels of nutrient leaching protein (0.57 ± 0.15%) and lipid (14.3 ± 14.30%) were observed up to 24 h in the underwater column. The highest score for overall physical and acceptance characteristics was noted for the 5% calcium lactate-based gel feed. Furthermore, a 20-day acceptance feeding experiment was conducted using 5% calcium lactate to examine its suitability as fish feed. The results indicate a better acceptability (3.55 ± 0.19%) and water stability (−2.5 ± 2.5%) of the gel feed compared to the control, with an improvement in nutrient losses. Overall, the study provides an insight into the application of gel-based diets for ornamental fish rearing, besides ensuring an efficient nutrient uptake and minimal leaching to establish a clean aquatic environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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25 pages, 8195 KiB  
Article
Copper-/Zinc-Doped TiO2 Nanopowders Synthesized by Microwave-Assisted Sol–Gel Method
by Luminița Predoană, Gabriela Petcu, Silviu Preda, Jeanina Pandele-Cușu, Simona Viorica Petrescu, Adriana Băran, Nicoleta G. Apostol, Ruxandra M. Costescu, Vasile-Adrian Surdu, Bogdan Ştefan Vasile and Adelina C. Ianculescu
Gels 2023, 9(4), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9040267 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2637
Abstract
Using the microwave-assisted sol–gel method, Zn- and Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with an anatase crystalline structure were prepared. Titanium (IV) butoxide was used as a TiO2 precursor, with parental alcohol as a solvent and ammonia water as a catalyst. Based on the [...] Read more.
Using the microwave-assisted sol–gel method, Zn- and Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with an anatase crystalline structure were prepared. Titanium (IV) butoxide was used as a TiO2 precursor, with parental alcohol as a solvent and ammonia water as a catalyst. Based on the TG/DTA results, the powders were thermally treated at 500 °C. XRD and XRF revealed the presence of a single-phase anatase and dopants in the thermally treated nanoparticles. The surface of the nanoparticles and the oxidation states of the elements were studied using XPS, which confirmed the presence of Ti, O, Zn, and Cu. The photocatalytic activity of the doped TiO2 nanopowders was tested for the degradation of methyl-orange (MO) dye. The results indicate that Cu doping increases the photoactivity of TiO2 in the visible-light range by narrowing the band-gap energy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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22 pages, 7245 KiB  
Article
A New Design of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogels Using Biodegradable Poly(Beta-Aminoester) Crosslinkers as Fertilizer Reservoirs for Agricultural Applications
by Yasemin Balçık Tamer
Gels 2023, 9(2), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9020127 - 3 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2384
Abstract
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (P(NIPAAm)) hydrogels were prepared by free-radical polymerization with biodegradable poly (β-amino ester) (PBAE) crosslinkers at 1 wt% and 3 wt% ratio, and compared with conventional N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA)-crosslinked hydrogel. The influence of the type, molecular weight, and diacrylate/amine ratio of the crosslinker [...] Read more.
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (P(NIPAAm)) hydrogels were prepared by free-radical polymerization with biodegradable poly (β-amino ester) (PBAE) crosslinkers at 1 wt% and 3 wt% ratio, and compared with conventional N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA)-crosslinked hydrogel. The influence of the type, molecular weight, and diacrylate/amine ratio of the crosslinker on the crosslink density, compressive strength, and swelling and biodegradation behavior of the hydrogels was investigated. The hydrogels synthesized with lower molecular weight PBAE crosslinkers showed higher crosslinking degrees and compressive strength and lower swelling ratios. To reveal the controlled release behavior of the fertilizer, KNO3 was used as the model, and its loading and release behavior from these hydrogels was also examined. The N/T5/1 sample with 1.5/1.0 diacrylate/amine molar ratio and 1 wt% PBAE ratio demonstrated the most controlled release of KNO3 with 66.9% after 18 days in soil. In addition, the hydrogel with the porosity of 71.65% and crosslinking degree of 2.85 × 10−5 mol cm−3 showed a swelling ratio of 69.44 g/g, biodegradation rate of 23.9%, and compressive strength of 1.074 MPa. Thus, it can be concluded that the new designed biodegradable P(NIPAAm) hydrogels can be promising materials as nitrate fertilizer reservoirs and also for controlled fertilizer release in soil media for agricultural applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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15 pages, 3238 KiB  
Article
Synthesis, Adsorption Isotherm and Kinetic Study of Alkaline- Treated Zeolite/Chitosan/Fe3+ Composites for Nitrate Removal from Aqueous Solution—Anion and Dye Effects
by Endar Hidayat, Tomoyuki Yoshino, Seiichiro Yonemura, Yoshiharu Mitoma and Hiroyuki Harada
Gels 2022, 8(12), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8120782 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2493
Abstract
In the present study, alkaline-treated zeolite/chitosan/Fe3+ (ZLCH-Fe) composites were prepared and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and pH of zero point of charge (pHzpc) to remove nitrates from water. The process was carried out using [...] Read more.
In the present study, alkaline-treated zeolite/chitosan/Fe3+ (ZLCH-Fe) composites were prepared and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and pH of zero point of charge (pHzpc) to remove nitrates from water. The process was carried out using an adsorption method with a varied initial pH, adsorbent dosage, initial nitrate concentration and contact time. The pHzpc demonstrated that the ZLCH-Fe surface had a positive charge between 2 and 10, making it easier to capture the negative charge of nitrate. However, the optimal pH value is 7. After 270 min, the maximum adsorption capacity and percent removal reached 498 mg/g and 99.64%, respectively. Freundlich and pseudo-second-order were fitted to the adsorption isotherm and kinetic models, respectively. An evaluation was conducted on the effects of anions—SO42− and PO43−—and dyes—methylene blue (MB) and acid red 88 (AR88)—upon nitrate removal. The results indicated that the effect of the anion could be inhibited, in contrast to dye effects. However, the optimal pH values were changed to 10 for MB and 2 for AR88, resulting in a hydrogel formation. This might be indicated by the protonation of hydroxyl and amino groups resulting from a chitosan nitrate reaction in the AR88 solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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19 pages, 12310 KiB  
Article
Development of Eco-Friendly Hydrophobic and Fouling-Release Coatings for Blue-Growth Environmental Applications: Synthesis, Mechanical Characterization and Biological Activity
by Silvia Sfameni, Giulia Rando, Alessia Marchetta, Cristina Scolaro, Simone Cappello, Clara Urzì, Annamaria Visco and Maria Rosaria Plutino
Gels 2022, 8(9), 528; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8090528 - 23 Aug 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3508
Abstract
The need to ensure adequate antifouling protection of the hull in the naval sector led to the development of real painting cycles, which involve the spreading of three layers of polymeric material on the hull surface exposed to the marine environment, specifically defined [...] Read more.
The need to ensure adequate antifouling protection of the hull in the naval sector led to the development of real painting cycles, which involve the spreading of three layers of polymeric material on the hull surface exposed to the marine environment, specifically defined as primer, tie coat and final topcoat. It is already well known that coatings based on suitable silanes provide an efficient and non-toxic approach for the hydrophobic and antifouling/fouling release treatment of surfaces. In the present work, functional hydrophobic hybrid silica-based coatings (topcoats) were developed by using sol-gel technology and deposited on surfaces with the “doctor blade” method. In particular, those organic silanes, featuring opportune functional groups such as long (either fluorinated) alkyl chains, have a notable influence on surface wettability as showed in this study. Furthermore, the hydrophobic behavior of this functionalized coating was improved by introducing an intermediate commercial tie-coat layer between the primer and the topcoat, in order to decrease the wettability (i.e., decreasing the surface energy with a matching increase in the contact angle, CA) and to therefore make such coatings ideal for the design and development of fouling release paints. The hereby synthesized coatings were characterized by optical microscopy, contact angle analysis and a mechanical pull-off test to measure the adhesive power of the coating against a metal substrate typically used in the nautical sector. Analysis to evaluate the bacterial adhesion and the formation of microbial biofilm were related in laboratory and simulation (microcosm) scales, and assessed by SEM analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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Review

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20 pages, 4896 KiB  
Review
Insights into the Potential of Biopolymeric Aerogels as an Advanced Soil-Fertilizer Delivery Systems
by H. P. S. Abdul Khalil, Kanchan Jha, Esam Bashir Yahya, Sandeep Panchal, Nidhi Patel, Arindam Garai, Soni Kumari and Mohammed Jameel
Gels 2023, 9(8), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9080666 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2895
Abstract
Soil fertilizers have the potential to significantly increase crop yields and improve plant health by providing essential nutrients to the soil. The use of fertilizers can also help to improve soil structure and fertility, leading to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. However, [...] Read more.
Soil fertilizers have the potential to significantly increase crop yields and improve plant health by providing essential nutrients to the soil. The use of fertilizers can also help to improve soil structure and fertility, leading to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. However, overuse or improper use of fertilizers can lead to soil degradation, which can reduce soil fertility, decrease crop yields, and damage ecosystems. Thus, several attempts have been made to overcome the issues related to the drawbacks of fertilizers, including the development of an advanced fertilizer delivery system. Biopolymer aerogels show promise as an innovative solution to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of soil-fertilizer delivery systems. Further research and development in this area could lead to the widespread adoption of biopolymer aerogels in agriculture, promoting sustainable farming practices and helping to address global food-security challenges. This review discusses for the first time the potential of biopolymer-based aerogels in soil-fertilizer delivery, going through the types of soil fertilizer and the advert health and environmental effects of overuse or misuse of soil fertilizers. Different types of biopolymer-based aerogels were discussed in terms of their potential in fertilizer delivery and, finally, the review addresses the challenges and future directions of biopolymer aerogels in soil-fertilizer delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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18 pages, 1268 KiB  
Review
Gel Carriers for Plant Extracts and Synthetic Pesticides in Rodent and Arthropod Pest Control: An Overview
by Jawad Ali Shah, Tomas Vendl, Radek Aulicky, Marcela Frankova and Vaclav Stejskal
Gels 2022, 8(8), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8080522 - 20 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6197
Abstract
Insecticides and rodenticides form the basis of integrated pest management systems worldwide. As pest resistance continues to increase and entire groups of chemical active ingredients are restricted or banned, manufacturers are looking for new options for more effective formulations and safer application methods [...] Read more.
Insecticides and rodenticides form the basis of integrated pest management systems worldwide. As pest resistance continues to increase and entire groups of chemical active ingredients are restricted or banned, manufacturers are looking for new options for more effective formulations and safer application methods for the remaining pesticide ingredients. In addition to new technological adaptations of mainstream formulations in the form of sprays, fumigants, and dusts, the use of gel formulations is becoming increasingly explored and employed. This article summarizes information on the current and potential use of gel (including hydrogel) and paste formulations against harmful arthropods or rodents in specific branches of pest management in the agricultural, food, stored product, structural wood, urban, medical, and public health areas. Due to the worldwide high interest in natural substances, part of the review was devoted to the use of gels for the formulation of pesticide substances of botanical origin, such as essential or edible oils. Gels as emerging formulation of so called “smart insecticides” based on molecular iRNA disruptors are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Gels for Agricultural and Environmental Applications)
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