Controlled Release Modeling of Urea from Chitosan Microspheres: Effect of Stirring Speed and Volume Ratio of Continuous to Dispersed Phase

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the release kinetics and diffusion coefficient of chitosan microspheres containing urea based on changes in the stirring speed and the volume ratio of the continuous to dispersed phase (CP/DP). Chitosan microspheres filled with urea were prepared using the emulsion cross-linking method. The initial stage of this method has formed an emulsion then slowly dripped with glutaraldehyde saturated toluene as a crosslinker. Urea-loaded chitosan microspheres were washed and dried and then tested for release in an aqueous medium. The calculated cumulative release was used to determine the release kinetics and diffusion coefficient of chitosan microspheres. The appropriate release kinetics model was Simple Power Law with the Burst Effect because it produces an R2 value of 0.99. The mechanism of urea release from chitosan microspheres is Case II the transport mechanism represents pure relaxation behavior. Determination of the diffusion coefficient values from 1,180 x 10-14 up to 1,433 x 10-14 cm2/sec.