Harnessing Lignite-Based Hydrogel for Enhanced UV Protection and Delivery of Dinotefuran in Agriculture

Abstract

The agricultural sector relies heavily on pesticides to enhance productivity and ensure food security, but UV degradation often compromises their efficacy. The present study addresses this issue and introduces dinotefuran-loaded, lignite-based polysodium acrylate hydrogel (Lt-g-SAH) as a protective shield against UV radiation for dinotefuran. The synthesis of Lt-g-SAH and control hydrogel (ctrl) through the graft co-polymerization method is detailed, with comprehensive characterization using 13C CPMAS NMR, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TGA techniques. The release kinetics of dinotefuran are investigated via UV–vis spectrophotometry to elucidate the controlled release. This study highlights the potential of lignite-based hydrogels as versatile platforms in pesticide protection, where dinotefuran was found to have a marginal decrease of 1.58% in Lt-g-SAH compared to a 28.11% decrease in ctrl hydrogel and delivery mechanisms, with the Lt-g-SAH demonstrating 62.46% pesticide release in 39 h in contrast to 56.22% release from ctrl in 33 h. The pesticide loading increased from 64.36% in ctrl to 70.12% in Lt-g-SAH. Incorporating lignite in Lt-g-SAH also improves the soil's water retention capacity and offers potential as a nitrogen fertilizer carrier. Through comprehensive evaluation, this study demonstrates the viability of lignite-based hydrogel as a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for safeguarding pesticides for agricultural sustainability.