Urea, also known as carbamide, is a diamide of carbonic acid with the chemical formula CH4N2O.
For industrial use, urea is produced from synthetic ammonia and carbon dioxide.
Since significant amounts of carbon dioxide are produced as a byproduct of hydrocarbons during the ammonia production process (mainly natural gas or, less commonly, petroleum derivatives) or sometimes from coal, urea production plants are almost always located near the ammonia production site.
Urea has various applications in different fields, including agriculture as a fertilizer and feed supplements, as well as in the production of plastics and pharmaceuticals.
Applications of urea in the industry include:
1. Agricultural urea or urea fertilizer:
Urea fertilizer, which is considered a nitrogenous fertilizer, is a more reasonable option compared to other nitrogen usage methods such as its dried form. This is because it is easier to transport, has better decomposition, and generally incurs lower costs. For environmental enthusiasts, the use of urea fertilizer reduces the production of environmental pollutants to a considerable extent. Additionally, urea fertilizer can be used not only in solid form but also in the form of a solution or spray. Research has shown that urea fertilizer provides better performance compared to other forms of nitrogen fertilizers.
2. Industrial urea or AdBlue:
Urea has numerous applications in industries and various fields, including:
- Use of urea for the production of meat protein in animals.
- Industrial-scale production of chemical, medicinal, and resinous fertilizers.
- Manufacturing resins and polymers.
- Various adhesives such as urea formaldehyde.
- Urea nitrate as an explosive substance.
- Additive to enhance the flavor of cigarettes.
- Main ingredient in products used for teeth whitening.
- Soaps and laundry detergents.
- Application of urea in automotive systems.
- Application of urea to increase the solubility of certain proteins.
- Used in skincare products to enhance body hydration.
- Used as an anti-icing agent on airport runways and streets.
- Acts as a stabilizer for nitrocellulose explosives.
- Used as a flame retardant in chemical firefighting operations.
- Used as an additive for industrial coloring and printing.
