Development of glass fertilizers containing conventional recyclable glass for modulated nutrient release

Glass fertilizers (GF) represent a promising materials due to their ability to incorporate various elements from the periodic table in differing proportions, allowing for the inclusion of multiple plant macro- and micronutrients within a single structure, alongside the capacity for tunable nutrient release. Consequently, they offer an attractive alternative to conventional NPK fertilizers, which are associated with environmental problems from the need for frequent reapplication. This study investigates the use of GF incorporating recycled glass (RG) as an eco-friendly and sustainable source of SiO₂ to achieve modulated release of its components (nutrients) into solution. GF samples were synthesized with 5 wt% and 10 wt% RG, alongside a control sample without RG. The materials were morphologically characterized, and the nutrients released during dissolution assays were quantified using ICP-OES. The results demonstrated the ability of RG to modulate and alter the rate of nutrient release over time by modifying the vitreous network.