Urea is an organic, colorless and crystalline compound with the formula (NH2)2CO, belonging to the Amide group.
It was discovered in 1773 by Hilaire Rouelle, but it was only in 1828 that it was artificially synthesized by Friedrich Woehler, by heating ammonium cyanate.
Today the compound is producedindustrially from CO2 and NH3 and has several applications. Among the main ones are:
– Urea Fertilizer
Improves crop yield as it provides a high concentration nitrogen for plants, which helps with vitality and continuity of the development process in a healthy way, not to mention the high foliar absorption it has.
– Livestock Urea
It helps with weight gain in calves and milk production in cows. Due to its low cost, becomes a viable non-protein nitrogen source option for cattle and is also highly soluble in the rumen.
– Technical Urea
It is used in the manufacture of melanin, synthetic resins, various plastics, waterproofing, urea-formaldehyde resins etc. In addition to being used in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics, such as in the production of moisturizing creams.
– Automotive Urea
It is the raw material for the production of ARLA 32, which acts to reduce the emission of Nitrogen Oxide [NOx] from diesel-powered vehicles, generated in the combustion process.
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