USE OF POLYSTYRENE-POLY(3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE) BIOBLENDS AS A COATING MATERIALS OF NITROGEN-PHOSPHORUS GRANULES AND ITS CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

Nitrogen-phosphorus (NP), the very soluble fertilizers, is easy to wash-out in the soil. Objectives of the research were to produce a slow release fertilizer (SRF) using polystyrene (PS)-Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)[(P(3-HB)] bioblend as the coating materials, and its characterizations. The possibilities of chemical interactions and surface morphology of coated NP granules were observed using FTIR Spectrophotometer and Scanning Electron Microscope, respectively. phosphorus released from coating granules measured by Uv-Vis Spectrophotometer. Results showed that the IR spectra of uncoated and coated NP granules showed that no chemical interactions were observed during the coating process. The characteristic test using SEM showed a clearly the core of the NP granules coated by the polymer. The percentage of phosphorus released after 48 hours from uncoated, coated granules of Formula 1, 2 and 3 were 68.44, 48.03, 26.90%, and 23.37%, respectively.