Integrated Synthesis and Agronomic Validation of a Novel Poly(AN-co-VA)-g-CH Biopolymer Fiber for Sustainable Geotextile Applications

Abstract

This work presents the synthesis and agronomic validation of a novel poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinyl acetate)-g-chitosan biopolymer integrated with pre-consumer acrylic textile waste for geotextile fabrication. Two fibers were produced via wet spinning. SEM analysis of the fibers revealed circular and porous morphologies, beneficial for moisture management. Geotextiles fabricated from fibers were evaluated in experimental radish cultivation against the commercial hydrogels Bountigel, Riego Sólido, and Hidrosilo under two placement methods: surface application and subsurface incorporation. The geotextiles exhibited superior germination regardless of placement position, outperforming the hydrogels. During fruit maturation, geotextiles demonstrated better performance when surface-applied, producing healthy radishes without disease symptoms observed in Bountigel and Riego Sólido treatments. This study demonstrates a viable circular economy approach for transforming textile waste into functional agricultural materials with handling properties comparable to conventional hydrogel products.