Bio-geotextiles based acrylonitrile and their evaluation on radish plants (Raphanus sativus)

In this study, two innovative biopolymers (BioP) were investigated for bio-geotextile (BioG) fabrication: an acrylonitrile-2-hidroxyethyl methacrylate-starch terpolymer (ST-AN), and a composite of acrylonitrile-vinyl acetate-chitosan terpolymer (CS-AN) blended with acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate (AN-MA) copolymer. Using wet-spinning technique, bio-fiber (BioF) were produced, characterized and utilized in to construct BioG. BioF based on ST-AN and CS-AN exhibited linear densities of 10.7 and 19.8 denier, bulk densities of 1.21 and 1.16 g/cm³, tensile strengths of 74.7 MPa and 28.5 MPa, elongation of 10.7% and 11.2%, and moisture retention capacities of 88% and 65%, respectively. The BioG made with ST-AN improved soil moisture retention by up to 130%. Radish plants biometric measurement in pots with BioG revealed improvements in growth parameters: leaf length increased by 87%, leaf width by 45%, and stem thickness by 142% compared to controls. These findings highlight the potential of bio-based materials to advance sustainable engineering through innovative strategies in synthesis, processing, and application, offering a viable alternative for the partial or complete replacement of plastics associated with microplastic generation and persistent environmental pollution.