The University of Adelaide

Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd

Shervin Kabiri

Dusan Losic

Diana Tran

Michael John McLaughlin

Ivan Andelkovic

A new slow-release fertilizer is described that is formed by applying graphene oxide (GO) as a carrier for micronutrients such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in which the micronutrients are efficiently bonded with the functional groups at the surface and sides of the GO sheets due to their affinity to the unpaired oxygen atoms in the GO. The prepared Cu-graphene oxide (Cu-GO) and Zn-graphene oxide (Zn-GO) fertilizers showed a biphasic dissolution behaviour compared to commercial zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) and copper sulphate (CuSO4) fertilizer granules, displaying both fast- and slow-release micronutrient release.

Graphene for fertilizer applications

A new slow-release fertilisers is described that is formed by applying graphene oxide (GO) as a carrier for micronutrients such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in which the micronutrients are efficiently bonded with the functional groups at the surface and sides of the GO sheets due to their affinity to the unpaired oxygen atoms in the GO. The prepared Cu-graphene oxide (Cu-GO) and Zn-graphene oxide (Zn-GO) fertilizers showed a biphasic dissolution behaviour compared to commercial zinc sulphate (ZnSO) and copper sulphate (CuSO) fertilizer granules, displaying both fast- and slow-release micronutrient release.

The present invention provides composite material having a porous graphene-based foam matrix and comprising porous inorganic micro-particles and metal oxide nano-particles distributed throughout the foam matrix.

Growing community of inventors

Payneham South, Australia

Shervin Kabiri