Review of nano-clay polymer composites for controlled nitrogen release: prospects and limitations

Nayak, Bitish Kumar; Chatterjee, Dibyendu ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6539-0781; Paul, Ranjan; Das, Saikat Ranjan; Adak, Totan; Mandal, Nintu; Drewer, Julia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6263-6341; Pradhan, Abhijit; Kundu, Manik Chandra; Pal, Asit Kumar; Santra, Gour Hari; Sahoo, Suryakanta; Datta, Samar Chandra; Sutton, Mark A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1342-2072; Nayak, Amaresh Kumar; Pathak, Himanshu. 2025 Review of nano-clay polymer composites for controlled nitrogen release: prospects and limitations. Agricultural Research. 10.1007/s40003-025-00848-5

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-025-00848-5

Abstract/Summary

This review paper discusses the potential and limitations of polymer composites for smart nitrogen (N) supply to meet the needs of agricultural crops. Unlike most conventional fertilizers, nano-clay polymer composites (NCPCs) offer a slow-release mechanism that enhances nitrogen use efficiency and reduces its loss to the environment. NCPCs are normally synthesized using solution blending, melt blending and in situ polymerization. Solution blending offers a better clay dispersion in the polymer matrix than melt blending owing to its low viscosity and strong stirring force. NCPCs have been characterized by several techniques, including equilibrium water absorbency, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and nutrient release kinetics. The potential benefits of using these composites are highlighted, including improved nitrogen use efficiency and reduced environmental impacts, as are their prospects for widespread use in agriculture and mitigation of the adverse environmental effects from conventional fertilizers. In addition, the limitations of NCPC technology, such as cost, scalability and potential negative environmental effects, are also investigated. The paper provides a wide perspective on the NCPC technology, including the regulatory environment and policy, industry trends and commercialization potential. NCPCs offer many benefits to increase nitrogen use efficiency and reduce pollution affecting water quality, air quality and climate. The main current barrier to overcome is to reduce production costs, so that farmers may also benefit financially from the higher nitrogen use efficiency and associated reduced amounts of nitrogen wasted to the environment.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/s40003-025-00848-5
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Land-Atmosphere Interactions (2025-)
ISSN:	2249-720X
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	solution blending, bentonite clay, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, equilibrium water absorbency, nitrogen fertilizer
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	21 Feb 2025 11:08 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538938

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1007/s40003-025-00848-5

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Land-Atmosphere Interactions (2025-)

ISSN:

2249-720X

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

solution blending, bentonite clay, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, equilibrium water absorbency, nitrogen fertilizer

NORA Subject Terms:

Agriculture and Soil Science

Date made live:

21 Feb 2025 11:08 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538938