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Vol. 38 No. 3 (2026): Vol 38 Issue 3, 2026

Copyright (c) 2026 Mohanambal Joyal, Andal Perumal, Anbarasu Mariyappillai

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Synthesis and Characterisation of Micronutrient Based Copper Alginate and Ferric Alginate Beads for Agricultural Applications

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2026.35186
Mohanambal Joyal
Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Pallavaram, Chennai-600117, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8141-5318
Andal Perumal
Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Pallavaram, Chennai-600117, India
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8398-8880
Anbarasu Mariyappillai
School of Agriculture, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Pallavaram, Chennai-600117, India
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7970-4454

Corresponding Author(s) : Andal Perumal

andalprithu.sbs@vistas.ac.in

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 38 No. 3 (2026): Vol 38 Issue 3, 2026

Abstract

The excessive use of chemical fertilizers has caused major environmental issues, emphasizing the need for sustainable nutrient delivery systems. In this work, copper and ferric alginate beads were synthesised using the ionotropic gelation method and analysed through UV-DRS, FTIR, FE-SEM, TGA, DSC and AAS techniques. The results showed that Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions had been successfully added. The copper beads had porous surfaces and the ferric beads had solid structures. Thermal studies showed that the material was more stable and AAS measured the metal contents at 18.2% Cu and 14.6% Fe. Pot experiments on black gram (Vigna mungo L.) showed that ferric alginate beads significant improved plant height (26.5 cm), pod number (32) and seed yield (6.82 g) compared to copper beads. Ferric beads also helped the roots grow better (8.8 cm, 0.75 g dry weight). Based on studies, ferric alginate beads demonstrate strong potential as eco-friendly slow-release fertilizers, while copper alginate beads provide comparatively moderate performance in supporting nutrient release.

Keywords

Copper alginate beads Ferric alginate beads Micronutrients Controlled release fertilizer
(1)
Joyal, M.; Perumal, A.; Mariyappillai, A. Synthesis and Characterisation of Micronutrient Based Copper Alginate and Ferric Alginate Beads for Agricultural Applications. ajc 2026, 38, 643-650.
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