Biodegradable polymers – perspectives and applications in agriculture

Abstract

Abstract The paper presents a brief overview of the results of the implementation of the project “Agropreparations of the new generation: a strategy of construction and realization”. The first part contains the analysis of the growth of the wild-type strain Cupriavidus necator B-10646 (formerly eutrophus) and the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates by this strain on various substrates: glycerol, palm oil, Siberian oil seed, sunflower seed oils, and oleic acid. On refined glycerin, a highly productive process is implemented when scaling up, allowing to obtain 128 ± 11 g / L PHA. Evaluation of oils has shown that palm oil is the best carbon substrate. The second part presents the results of the development of environmentally friendly slow-release pesticide formulations. They are a degradable matrix of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate mixed with natural materials (peat, clay, wood flour), into which a pesticide (metribuzin, tribenuron-methyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, azoxystrobin, epoxiconazole, and tebuconazole) has been. The developed preparations showed high activity against pathogenic fungi and weeds and had a much weaker negative effect on the soil microflora. Studies of the degradation of the developed preparations and the release of pesticides into the soil confirm their effectiveness over a long period of time, up to 90 days.