Gel to keep water

Production of water-absorbing gels by radiation techniques ( Photo: Q.Thanh ) Radiation Technology Research and Development Center (Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City) said this unit has been widely sold in the market. A single material of cassava starch (tapioca) can be sucked and kept up to several hundred times its dry weight.

This material is called water-absorbing gel. The main production material is cassava starch and is used for irradiation with gamma SV-ST Co-60 / B source (Hungary) for production.

Doan Binh - a member of the research group - said the water-absorbing gel acts as a reserve water available for plants when needed, while also helping to prevent drought, saving water.

Mr. Binh said that thanks to the special structure of the gel product, this product has the characteristics of holding water and releasing water appropriately in the soil environment, and will decompose itself in soil after nearly a year. According to Mr. Binh, farmers should apply gel to absorb water at the end of the rainy season to take advantage of the late rains to provide water for the pieces of gel buried in the soil.

When there is an abundance of water, water-absorbing gels will 'eat' a large amount of water. This amount of water will be kept in the 'people' of the gel pieces and until the right conditions are met, the water will be released slowly, helping to moisten the soil and provide enough water for the plant.

SANDALWOOD