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Gels
Special Issues
Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability
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Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2025) | Viewed by 12850

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Daniel A. Palacio

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Polímeros, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Interests: complex polyelectrolytes; hydrogels; (nano)composites; biobased materials; agricultural applications; biopolymer modification; ultrafiltration processes; removal of emerging organic pollutants; functional polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Manuel Francisco Melendrez Castro

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology and Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad San Sebastian, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Interests: applied nanotechnology; hybrid materials; nanocomposite hydrogels; biobased material
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gustavo Cabrera Barjas

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Sciences for Healthcare Nutrition and Dietetica School, Universidad San Sebastián, Campus Las Tres Pascualas, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Interests: hydrogels; polysaccharides; biopolymers; polyphenols; biocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The design and applications of hydrogels in different fields of application have increased considerably over the years. This is due to the great versatility, properties, and unique solutions that this type of material provides. Currently, with the challenge of obtaining new, friendlier materials with applications to minimize the impacts caused by climate change, the design of hydrogels and hydrogel-derived materials has become a focus of studies to counteract the current sustainability needs of agriculture and water as part of the global economy and as necessary resources on our planet.

In this Special Issue, entitled “Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability”, we seek contributions in the field of advancing the design of hydrogel-derived materials for agriculture and water sustainability, such as hydrogels for the elimination of emerging organic contaminants, contaminants of organic origin such as antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, dyes, analgesics, and pesticides, among others, and contaminants of inorganic origin such as heavy metals and oxyanions in both the soil and water matrix. In addition, we seek contributions on the controlled release of agrochemicals, water, hormones, pesticides, etc. Likewise, manuscripts are accepted in the fields of nanocomposite hydrogels, hybrid hydrogels, biobased hydrogels, and other types of hydrogels for agriculture and water sustainability.

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Daniel A. Palacio
Dr. M. Melendrez-castro
Dr. Gustavo Cabrera Barjas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • super absorbent
  • hydrogels
  • controlled release hydrogels in agriculture
  • hydrogels for contaminant removal
  • design and characterization of hydrogels
  • application of hydrogels for environmental sustainability
  • nanocomposite hydrogels
  • hybrid hydrogels
  • biobased hydrogels

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2939 KB  
Article
Polyampholytic Hydrogels from Chitosan Macromonomers with Aryl-Mono and Di-Sulfonated Groups: An Approach to the Removal of Copper Ions and Ciprofloxacin in Aqueous Solutions
by Diana Montoya-Rodríguez, Alexis Salas, Manuel F. Meléndrez, Elizabeth R. Gillies and Daniel A. Palacio
Gels 2025, 11(8), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080622 - 8 Aug 2025
Viewed by 359
Abstract
Functional hydrogels have significant potential for applications in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental sectors. This study focuses on the synthesis of polyampholytic hydrogels through free radical polymerization using functionalized chitosans. The chitosan was modified with mono and disulfonic groups at different temperatures (25 [...] Read more.
Functional hydrogels have significant potential for applications in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental sectors. This study focuses on the synthesis of polyampholytic hydrogels through free radical polymerization using functionalized chitosans. The chitosan was modified with mono and disulfonic groups at different temperatures (25 °C and 60 °C) and reaction times (1, 8, 24 h), followed by further modification with glycidyl methacrylate to introduce vinyl groups into the polymers structure. The modified polymers were analyzed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and solubility tests. Specifically, 0.74 mmol/g and 1.58 mmol/g of the primary amine groups available in the chitosan chain (out of a total of 4.93 mmol/g) were substituted with mono- and disulfonic groups, respectively. Following treatment with glycidyl methacrylate, 3.39 mmol/g and 2.21 mmol/g of the remaining primary amine groups in the mono- and disulfonic polymers, respectively, were substituted. The hydrogels obtained by the modified polymers at optimal conditions of 1 h and 25 °C, were characterized by the techniques already mentioned in addition to rheological tests, and water absorption studies across different pHs. The hydrogels demonstrated potential for environmental remediation, particularly in adsorptions of ciprofloxacin (CPX) and copper (Cu2+) from aqueous solutions at pH 7, achieving adsorption efficiencies of 24–25% for CPX and 83% for Cu2+. The results suggest that the synthesized hydrogels could provide an eco-friendly and efficient solution to challenges in wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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23 pages, 16269 KB  
Article
Development of Eco-Friendly Date Palm Biomass-Based Hydrogels for Enhanced Water Retention in Soil
by Faisal S. Alsubaie, Mouyed Srdar, Osama Fayraa, Faris M. Alsulami, Feras Omran and Khalid A. Alamry
Gels 2025, 11(5), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050349 - 8 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1269
Abstract
The growth of plants highly depends on the soil’s water availability and properties. Hydrogels (HGs) have been used for decades to enhance soil water retention, whereas developing eco-friendly and sustainable HGs for agricultural applications is still necessary to ensure water and food security. [...] Read more.
The growth of plants highly depends on the soil’s water availability and properties. Hydrogels (HGs) have been used for decades to enhance soil water retention, whereas developing eco-friendly and sustainable HGs for agricultural applications is still necessary to ensure water and food security. In this study, renewable and cost-effective HGs were prepared from all-lignocellulose fibers of date palm biomass after carboxymethylation followed by citric acid (CA) crosslinking. HGs showed high equilibrium swelling capacity (EWC%), even in salty media, whereas purified HGs showed about 700–400 EWC% in deionized water. Further, HGs’ effect on germination was studied on Chico III tomato, mint, Basilico red, and chia seeds. The results revealed that HGs enhanced the soil properties, with taller and healthier plants observed in HG-amended soil. FTIR, thermal analysis, and microscope imaging were utilized to evaluate HGs’ and raw materials’ characteristics. The findings in this study support the idea that all-lignocellulose could be used for HG production without separation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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19 pages, 6738 KB  
Article
Nano-Enabled Seed Treatment Using Bisepoxide-Polyoxypropylenetriamine Polymeric Gel with Different Embedded Zinc Sources
by Felipe B. Alves, Adela S. M. Goñi, Bruno A. Fico, Vanessa S. A. Silva, Renato P. Orenha, Renato L. T. Parreira, Heber E. Andrada, Gabriel Sgarbiero Montanha, Higor J. F. A. da Silva, Eduardo de Almeida, Hudson W. P. de Carvalho, Natália Chittolina, Clíssia B. Mastrangelo and Eduardo F. Molina
Gels 2025, 11(3), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11030167 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 879
Abstract
In the 21st century, sustainable agriculture is expected to become a major contributor to food security and improved nutrition. Amine–epoxide-based materials have great potential for use in agriculture due to their tunable physicochemical features, which are dependent on the concentration and composition of [...] Read more.
In the 21st century, sustainable agriculture is expected to become a major contributor to food security and improved nutrition. Amine–epoxide-based materials have great potential for use in agriculture due to their tunable physicochemical features, which are dependent on the concentration and composition of the monomers. In this work, catalyst-free green synthesis, using only water as a solvent, was performed to obtain a nanocarrier (TGel) capable of transporting nutrients after seed priming. The synthesis was based on the opening of the epoxy ring by nucleophile attack, using an amine-terminated polyether. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques showed the spherical morphology of the particles, which ranged in size from 80 nm (unloaded TGel) to 360 nm (zinc-loaded TGel), respectively. Theoretical bonding analysis revealed that Zn cation species from the ZnSO4 source interact with the polymer via σ-bonds, whereas EDTA forms hydrogen bonds with the polymer, thereby enhancing noncovalent interactions. Micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF) provided details of the distributions of Zn in the seed compartments and shoots of cucumber plants after seed priming and plant growth, respectively. The use of the Zn-loaded TGels did not affect the physiology of the cucumber plants, as indicated by the photosynthetic efficacy, chlorophyll, and anthocyanin indices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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17 pages, 3279 KB  
Article
Fabrication of Functional Polymers with Gradual Release of a Bioactive Precursor for Agricultural Applications
by Oscar G. Marambio, Rudy Martin-Trasancos, Julio Sánchez, Felipe A. Ramos and Guadalupe del C. Pizarro
Gels 2025, 11(2), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11020090 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 975
Abstract
Biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric materials and stimulus-responsive hydrogels are widely used in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, biomedical, and consumer sectors. The effectiveness of these formulations depends significantly on the appropriate selection of polymer support. Through chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis, these materials can gradually release [...] Read more.
Biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric materials and stimulus-responsive hydrogels are widely used in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, biomedical, and consumer sectors. The effectiveness of these formulations depends significantly on the appropriate selection of polymer support. Through chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis, these materials can gradually release bioactive agents, enabling controlled drug release. The objective of this work is to synthesize, characterize, and apply two controlled-release polymeric systems, focusing on the release of a phyto-pharmaceutical agent (herbicide) at varying pH levels. The copolymers were synthesized via free radical polymerization in solution, utilizing tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the organic solvent and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as the initiator, without the use of a cross-linking agent. Initially, the herbicide was grafted onto the polymeric chains, and its release was subsequently tested across different pH environments in a heterogeneous phase using an ultrafiltration (UF) system. The development of these two controlled-release polymer systems aimed to measure the herbicide’s release across different pH levels. The goal is to adapt these materials for agricultural use, enhancing soil quality and promoting efficient water usage in farming practices. The results indicate that the release of the herbicide from the conjugate systems exceeded 90% of the bioactive compound after 8 days at pH 10 for both systems. Furthermore, the two polymeric systems demonstrated first-order kinetics for herbicide release in aqueous solutions at different pH levels. The kinetic constant was found to be higher at pH 7 and 10 compared to pH 3. These synthetic hydrogels are recognized as functional polymers suitable for the sustained release of herbicides in agricultural applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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15 pages, 4814 KB  
Article
Development of Variable Charge Cationic Hydrogel Particles with Potential Application in the Removal of Amoxicillin and Sulfamethoxazole from Water
by Francisca L. Aranda, Manuel F. Meléndrez, Mónica A. Pérez, Bernabé L. Rivas, Eduardo D. Pereira and Daniel A. Palacio
Gels 2024, 10(12), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120760 - 23 Nov 2024
Viewed by 825
Abstract
Cationic hydrogel particles (CHPs) crosslinked with glutaraldehyde were synthesized and characterized to evaluate their removal capacity for two globally consumed antibiotics: amoxicillin and sulfamethoxazole. The obtained material was characterized by FTIR, SEM, and TGA, confirming effective crosslinking. The optimal working pH was determined [...] Read more.
Cationic hydrogel particles (CHPs) crosslinked with glutaraldehyde were synthesized and characterized to evaluate their removal capacity for two globally consumed antibiotics: amoxicillin and sulfamethoxazole. The obtained material was characterized by FTIR, SEM, and TGA, confirming effective crosslinking. The optimal working pH was determined to be 6.0 for amoxicillin and 4.0 for sulfamethoxazole. Under these conditions, the CHPs achieved over 90.0% removal of amoxicillin after 360 min at room temperature, while sulfamethoxazole removal reached approximately 60.0% after 300 min. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that adsorption occurs through a physisorption process and is endothermic. The ΔH° values of 28.38 kJ mol−1, 12.39 kJ mol−1, and ΔS° 97.19 J mol−1 K−1, and 33.94 J mol−1 K−1 for AMX and SMX, respectively. These results highlight the potential of CHPs as promising materials for the removal of such contaminants from aqueous media. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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15 pages, 4133 KB  
Article
Development of High-Efficiency Fertilizer by Hydrogels Obtained from Cassava Starch and Citric Acid for Slow Release of Ammonium and Potassium
by Andrés F. Chamorro, Manuel Palencia and Álvaro A. Arrieta
Gels 2024, 10(7), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10070434 - 29 Jun 2024
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2703
Abstract
Fertilizers with enhanced efficiency or high-efficiency fertilizers increase the nutrient availability, minimize losses, and reduce costs, thereby increasing crop yields and food production while mitigating environmental impacts. This research evaluates the synthesis of biodegradable hydrogels from cassava starch and citric acid for agrochemical [...] Read more.
Fertilizers with enhanced efficiency or high-efficiency fertilizers increase the nutrient availability, minimize losses, and reduce costs, thereby increasing crop yields and food production while mitigating environmental impacts. This research evaluates the synthesis of biodegradable hydrogels from cassava starch and citric acid for agrochemical applications. Hydrogels were synthesized using water as the solvent and applied for the controlled release of macronutrients (N and K). Four concentrations of nutrient-containing salts were tested (0.5 to 10.0% w/w). Materials were analyzed using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and swelling studies. The presence of nutrients reduced both the crosslinking efficacy and the water absorption capacity, with the latter dropping from 183.4 ± 0.6% to 117.9 ± 3.7% and 157.4 ± 25.0% for hydrogels loaded with NH4Cl and KCl, respectively. The cumulative release of K and N from the hydrogel was monitored for 144 h and examined using kinetics models, revealing that the releases follow Fickian’s diffusion and anomalous diffusion, respectively. Additionally, the material was formed using cassava with peel previously milled to reduce the production costs, and its potential for nutrient-controlled delivery was evaluated, with the finding that this hydrogel decreases the release rate of nitrogen. The results suggest that these biomaterials may have promising applications in the agrochemical industry in the making of high-efficiency fertilizers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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16 pages, 3641 KB  
Article
Biodegradable Cassava Starch/Phosphorite/Citric Acid Based Hydrogel for Slow Release of Phosphorus: In Vitro Study
by Andrés F. Chamorro, Manuel Palencia and Enrique M. Combatt
Gels 2024, 10(7), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10070431 - 28 Jun 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2640
Abstract
Phosphorous (P) is one the most important elements in several biological cycles, and is a fundamental component of soil, plants and living organisms. P has a low mobility and is quickly adsorbed on clayey soils, limiting its availability and absorption by plants. Here, [...] Read more.
Phosphorous (P) is one the most important elements in several biological cycles, and is a fundamental component of soil, plants and living organisms. P has a low mobility and is quickly adsorbed on clayey soils, limiting its availability and absorption by plants. Here, biodegradable hydrogels based on Cassava starch crosslinked with citric acid (CA) were made and loaded with KH2PO4 and phosphorite to promote the slow release of phosphorus, the storing of water, and the reduction in P requirements during fertilization operations. Crosslinking as a function of CA concentrations was investigated by ATR-FTIR and TGA. The water absorption capacity (WAC) and P release, under different humic acid concentration regimens, were studied by in vitro tests. It is concluded that hydrogel formed from 10% w/w of CA showed the lowest WAC because of a high crosslinking degree. Hydrogel containing 10% w/w of phosphorite was shown to be useful to encouraging the slow release of P, its release behavior being fitted to the Higuchi kinetics model. In addition, P release increased as humic acid contents were increased. These findings suggest that these hydrogels could be used for encouraging P slow release during crop production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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16 pages, 19173 KB  
Article
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocomposite Hydrogels Based on Poly(Sodium 4-Styrene Sulfonate) under Very-High Concentration Regimen of Clays (Bentonite and Kaolinite)
by Tulio A. Lerma, Enrique M. Combatt and Manuel Palencia
Gels 2024, 10(6), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10060405 - 18 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1540
Abstract
The aim of this work was to synthesize and study the functional properties of polymer-clay nanocomposite (PCNCs) based on poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (NaPSS) and two types of clay in the dispersed phase: bentonite and kaolinite, in order to advance in the development of [...] Read more.
The aim of this work was to synthesize and study the functional properties of polymer-clay nanocomposite (PCNCs) based on poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (NaPSS) and two types of clay in the dispersed phase: bentonite and kaolinite, in order to advance in the development of new geomimetic materials for agricultural and environmental applications. In this study, the effect of adding high concentrations of clay (10–20 wt. %) on the structural and functional properties of a polymer–clay nanocomposite was evaluated. The characterization by infrared spectroscopy made it possible to show that the PCNCs had a hybrid nature structure through the identification of typical vibration bands of the clay matrix and NaPSS. In addition, scanning electron microscopy allowed us to verify its hybrid composition and an amorphous particle-like morphology. The thermal characterization showed degradation temperatures higher than ~300 °C with Tg values higher than 100 °C and variables depending on the clay contents. In addition, the PCNCs showed a high water-retention capacity (>2900%) and cation exchange capacity (>112 meq/100 g). Finally, the results demonstrated the ability of geomimetic conditioners to mimic the structure and functional properties of soils, suggesting their potential application in improving soil quality for plant growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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15 pages, 3139 KB  
Review
From Agro-Industrial Waste to Natural Hydrogels: A Sustainable Alternative to Reduce Water Use in Agriculture
by César F. Alonso-Cuevas, Nathiely Ramírez-Guzmán, Liliana Serna-Cock, Marcelo Guancha-Chalapud, Jorge A. Aguirre-Joya, David R. Aguillón-Gutiérrez, Alejandro Claudio-Rizo and Cristian Torres-León
Gels 2025, 11(8), 616; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080616 - 7 Aug 2025
Viewed by 634
Abstract
The increasing demand for food necessitates that agri-food systems adopt innovative techniques to enhance food production while optimizing the use of limited resources, such as water. In agriculture, hydrogels are being increasingly used to enhance water retention and reduce irrigation requirements. However, most [...] Read more.
The increasing demand for food necessitates that agri-food systems adopt innovative techniques to enhance food production while optimizing the use of limited resources, such as water. In agriculture, hydrogels are being increasingly used to enhance water retention and reduce irrigation requirements. However, most of these materials are based on synthetic polymers that are not biodegradable. This raises serious environmental and health concerns, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable, biodegradable alternatives. Biomass-derived from agro-industrial waste presents a substantial potential for producing hydrogels, which can effectively function as water collectors and suppliers for crops. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the application of agro-industrial waste for the formulation of hydrogels. Additionally, it offers a critical analysis of the development of hydrogels utilizing natural and compostable materials. Agro-industrial and food waste, which are rich in hemicellulose and cellulose, have been utilized to enhance the mechanical properties and water absorption capacity of hydrogels. These biomaterials hold significant potential for the development of effective hydrogels in agricultural applications; they can be either hybrid or natural materials that exhibit efficacy in enhancing seed germination, improving water retention capabilities, and facilitating the controlled release of fertilizers. Natural hydrogels derived from agro-industrial waste present a sustainable technological alternative that is environmentally benign. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability)
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