Metal-Phenolic Networks: From Fundamental to Agricultural Applications

Abstract

Urea, as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, plays a vital role in increasing and maintaining soil fertility, and crop yield. The efficiency of urea as a fertilizer reduces through ammonia volatilization, nitrification, denitrification, nitrate leaching to groundwater, and runoff. Nitrogen loss can be reduced through controlled-release ureas (CRUs), which can control the physicochemical release of urea in soil. Materials used for the fabrication of CRUs are mostly non-biodegradable polymers, which further spread pollutants into the environment. In an effort to reduce environmental impact, this thesis investigated the possibility of using metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) as a means of coating urea such..