Cationic modified lignin: Regulation of synthetic microspheres for achieving anti-photolysis and sustained release of the abscisic acid

Lignin is an abundant, renewable natural resource that shows UV resistance and whose amphiphilicity can be modified, which means it could potentially encapsulate photo-sensitive agrichemicals. However, current technical lignins, e.g., alkaline lignin (AL), tend to form large aggregates, severely limits its encapsulation performance. In this study, three cationic surfactants were selected for hydrophobic modification of AL, produce AL microspheres (AL-MPs) encapsulating abscisic acid (ABA). The tested dodecyl tetramethyl ammonium bromide DTAB (single C12 chain), dimethyl behenyl DDAB (two chains) cetylpyridinium chloride CPC C16 chain). particle sizes, zeta-potentials, efficiencies the AL-MPs modified by changing type surfactant weight percentage (wt%) AL. range zeta potentials 232–1226 nm, –56.1–18.7 mV, 62–78%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used characterize MPs. photolysis protection release ABA from ABA-loaded MPs (e.g., [email protected]) studied a kinetics model built probe behaviour. effects protected] on salt tolerance rice seedlings under salinity stress studied, mechanism discussed. effectively protected growth inhibition stress. most effective formulation, outperforming even no-salt control. less cytotoxic than CTAB has potential, when combine with other agrichemicals formulations sustained-release properties.