Evaluation of Waterborne Coating for Controlled-Release Fertilizer Using Wurster Fluidized Bed

Abstract

Coating through polymer film to control nutrient release can reduce the nutrient losses and minimize environmental contamination. In this research, the waterborne acrylate latex and additive (cross-linker aziridine) were used to develop coated controlled-release fertilizers by Wurster-type fluidized bed, and the influences of different cross-linker percentage on the coating properties and the nutrient-release profiles were investigated. The results indicated that the waterborne coating coupled with the 2 wt % of cross-linker could effectively decrease the swelling capacity of the membrane to 5.54 ± 0.32% while obtaining a suitable Tg (6.13 °C); the cumulative nutrient-release percentage was significantly improved to around 40% in 9 days at 40 °C. This organic solvent-free coating provided a promising option for the development of coated controlled-release fertilizer.