Mr. Talha Genc

University of Montpellier
France

Abstract Title: Polysaccharides in Agriculture: Crosslinked Sodium Alginate-g-poly(Potassium Acrylate) for Extended Water and Urea Release

Biography: Talha Genç earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Yildiz Technical University, completing an exchange year at Brno University of Technology and graduating with honors. He obtained a Master’s in Advanced Cosmetic Sciences from the University of Bologna with 110/110 cum laude. Currently, he is a Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Doctoral Researcher in the ESPERANTO project at the University of Montpellier.

Research Interest: Here we present the synthesis and characterization of a crosslinked sodium alginate-g-poly(potassium acrylate) hydrogel designed for extended release applications in agriculture. The hydrogel was synthesized via graft copolymerization of potassium acrylate onto sodium alginate using N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator in aqueous solution. The physical, chemical, structural, and morphological characteristics of the hydrogel were thoroughly investigated using solid-state 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), attenuated total reflectance fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX). Swelling and deswelling ratios were evaluated to characterize the water absorption and release behavior of the superabsorbent hydrogel. Compression tests were performed on samples allowed to swell for varying durations in order to assess their mechanical stability and resistance to deformation under simulated soil pressure conditions. Furthermore, the hydrogel's interaction with urea was examined by evaluating its swelling capacity in urea-containing media and monitoring the controlled release of urea over time using ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), demonstrating its potential as a nutrient delivery system in agricultural applications. This multifunctional material has potential applications in agriculture together with active substances such as fertilizers or soil conditioners, offering enhanced efficiency and environmental sustainability.