RESEARCH ON THE BIODEGRADABILITY AND ECOTOXICITY OF SOME BIOHYDROGELS

In order to address pressing issues such as persistent drought conditions or limited water availability, researchers have extensively examined hydrogels, which serve as reservoirs for water retention. They have the capacity to store a substantial amount of water and gradually release it in a controlled manner. Biodegradability stands as a main requirement for these polymeric materials, as they can be employed in the field of agriculture and may present a sustainable mechanism. Additionally, hydrogels must exhibit a lack of ecotoxicity, ensuring that no harmful substances are released into the environment following the biodegradation process. The aim of this study was to test 8 different formulations of hydrogels based on acrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose and sodium alginate regarding their biodegradability rate and their ecotoxicity potential. After 200 days the tested samples showed a greater rate of biodegradation for the samples containing a higher amount of sodium alginate. The ecotoxicity of the tested biohydrogels, was assessed through the germination rate and rootlet length of the radish seeds measurements. The germination process has been positively influenced by some samples while most of them demonstrated similar behavior with the control