Sari Edi Cahyaningrum, Fitriari Izzatunnisa Muhaimin, Retno Ariadi Lusiana, Taufik Abdillah Natsir, Betari Marena, Amalia Putri Purnamasari
Slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) can improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. In this study, an environmentally friendly SRF was prepared using chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), urea, and calcium, aiming to enhance urea absorption by plants. The membrane was fabricated using the casting method, in which the polymer solution was poured into Petri dishes and the solvent was evaporated to obtain a dry SRF membrane. The results showed that increasing the PVA content in the SRF matrix reduced the porosity from 9.3×10⁻⁴ to 5.4×10⁻⁴ and increased the swelling degree from 105% to 121%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed pores on the membrane surface, allowing gradual urea release through diffusion. The release kinetics of samples P0, P1, and P2 followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, while P3 followed first-order kinetics. These findings indicate that the chitosan– PVA membrane can serve as an effective slow-release urea fertilizer, promoting plant growth while being environmentally sustainable. © 2026 by SPC (Sami Publishing Company), Asian Journal of Green Chemistry, Reproduction is permitted for noncommercial purposes.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Jl. Ketintang, Gayungan, East Java, Surabaya, 60231, Indonesia; Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Jl. Ketintang, Gayungan, East Java, Surabaya, 60231, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, Jl. Prof. Soedarto, Tembalang, Jawa Tengah, Kota Semarang, 50275, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sekip Utara Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
