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White crystalline urea is a nitrogen-containing compound, less organized chemical than amino acids and proteins, and is the simplest among all nitrogenous organic compounds. It has the molecular formula H2NCONH2 and is produced as a waste product in the metabolic activity of many living organisms.
The compound is produced as a result of the condensation of two molecules of ammonia with carbon dioxide. It is an important nitrogen source used in the production of fertilizers in agriculture and is also used for the synthesis of some chemicals and plastics. The demand and use of urea have resulted in suppliers producing it in various types of crystalline forms.
Granular urea
Granular urea is produced when ammonia and carbon dioxide are mixed and crystallized to produce ammonium carbamate, which after drying and heating produces urea. Granular urea is widely used as a fertilizer since it can be applied to the soil easily and improves crop yield with its nitrogen content.
Coarse urea crystals
This type is produced during the crystallization stage when the ammonium carbamate is mixed. The bigger the size of the crystals that are produced at this stage have a higher tendency to break down into ammonia and carbon dioxide. It is the tendency to break down that makes coarse urea crystalline habit suited for prilled urea fertilizer production since it can withstand longer processing and transportation without losing efficacy. Also, due to its big size, coarse urea crystals have low resistance to water and will dissolve faster when applied to the soil.
Fine urea crystals
Once the coarse urea crystals undergo additional grinding to make them finer particles, then they become fine urea crystals. These crystals tend to have a more uniform e and finer texture that increases their solubility when they are applied to soil. However, the fine urea crystals are prone to caking when stored due to their large surface area and high humidity and also might be difficult to spread uniformly due to their small size.
Urea prills
Urea prills are small, uniform spheres or pellets produced by the process called prilling. Prills are preferred as fertilizer urea because they are easy to spread on the farmland, dissolve readily to release nitrogen to plants and crops, and have a lower tendency to aggregate during storage and handling. Fertilizer urea also contains crystalline moisture that makes fertilizer urea prills have a lower tendency to dust and respiratory hazards when handled. Urea prills also have a lower tendency to be lost during application because they are less affected by wind compared to smaller crystal sizes.
Urea crystal powder
This is the smallest size of urea in terms of particle. Urea crystal powder is produced when prills or fine crystals go further in milling to obtain powder. It has a huge surface area that increases its solubility and therefore tends to dissolve quickly when applied to soil. This makes it suited for crops that require quick nutrient absorption. However, urea crystal powder is prone to caking when stored due to its small particle size.
White crystalline urea is a highly soluble and versatile nitrogenous compound used in agriculture, livestock feeds, and chemical industry. Produced in crystal, powder, and prills, it is the most popular nitrogen-rich fertilizer in agriculture. It consists of 46% nitrogen which makes it effective as a source of nutrients for crops. The following are some features of white crystalline urea:
Physical features
Urea is a white crystalline solid that tends to form in the form of odorless granules, crystals, or prills. It has a slightly bitter taste and its solubility in water is about 107 grams per 100 milliliters at room temperature (20°C). Also, its solubility increases with temperature and becomes completely soluble at about 132°C. Among its physical features, urea is non-toxic but poses health risks when inhaled and has a tendency to irritate human skin and eyes. It has a tendency to absorb moisture within itself leading to clumping during storage and transport, especially high-humidity environments.
Chemical features
Urea is produced when the nitrogenous waste of animals is dissolved. Urea therefore has a high carbon and nitrogen content. It has a molecular formula of CO(NH2)2 and comprises two amine groups that are attached to carbonyl. Due to its high nitrogen concentration, urea is the most applied nitrogenous fertilizer in agriculture around the world.
High solubility
Urea is highly soluble in water and dissolves quickly once it comes in contact with moisture. This feature makes it easy to apply to crops either as solid or liquid and to be absorbed by the roots for effective nutrient uptake.
Neutral pH
The urea solution has a neutral pH of around 7 which means it doesn't affect soil acidity or alkalinity. It is therefore suitable for all soil types and has no negative effect on seed or plant root.
No plant toxicity
Urea is non-toxic to plants as opposed to other types of fertilizers that contain high concentrations of salts because it is less likely to create osmotic stress on plants.
Eco-friendly
Urea is produced from carbon dioxide and ammonia and how it is produced now lessens the impact of urea on the environment and provides a way of disposing of the waste gases.
There are different ways of utilizing white urea nitrogen in industry and agriculture because of its effectiveness. It is primarily applied as a fertilizer to promote plant growth with the high nitrogen content present in the crop soil. Urea can also be produced as animal lick salt for feed supplementation to improve livestock health and support animal growth. Besides agriculture and animal husbandry, urea is also utilized by industrial suppliers for different ammonia-based product formulations that are used in the production of plastics, resins, adhesives, and some pharmaceuticals. Urea is also applied as coating for slow-release fertilizers to enhance nutrient availability to plants over time. How to use white crystalline urea includes the following:
Agricultural use
Urea can be applied to farmland in a solution form and is recommended to be applied during the rainy season when there is natural leaching of the soil so that the urea does not remain on the surface and wastage. It can also be applied in dry form and should be worked into the soil to reduce contact with air and enhance dissolution by soil moisture. Urea should be applied to all crops that are responsive to nitrogen such as maize, nickel, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables, and fruits. In livestock farming, urea can be mixed with other feed ingredients to supplement nitrogen deficiency in ruminant livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats. It should be ensured that urea is mixed properly with the ration and adequate water is accessible to the livestock to prevent urea toxicity. Urea is used to boost animal health and support weight gain by providing amino acids needed for protein synthesis and overall metabolism.
Industrial use
Urea is utilized by industries to synthesize various chemicals such as formaldehyde-urea resins used in adhesives and particleboard manufacturing. It is also used in production of melamine, an important chemical in the production of laminates and coatings materials used in home and office furnishings. Also, urea is a component of nitric acid manufacture in the Catalytic Decomposition of ammonium carbamate in which ammonia is oxidized to form nitric acid. Nitric acid will then be neutralized with urea to produce ammonium nitrate, one of the most widely used fertilizers in agriculture. Urea is also embedded in creams, ointments, and lotions in the pharmaceutical industry for skin care treatment of psoriasis or to hydrate the skin to reduce cracking and dryness.
Coating urea to fertilizers
Urea is applied as a coating to other fertilizers to enable slow release and improve effectiveness. Coated fertilizers dissolve more slowly in soil moisture and release nutrients gradually over time. This allows plants to uptake fertilizer more completely, reduces nutrient leaching and wastage, and provides a steady supply of nutrients to crops.
The type of farming practiced nowadays needs a highly efficient and easy to apply fertilizer that promotes the healthy growth of crops and utilizes space and time effectively for a successful yield. White urea is produced with high nitrogen concentration that makes it effective to apply to a variety of crops with different nutrient needs. There are also benefits of agriculture urea to livestock as it supplements protein in ruminants and boosts better health and successful meat production.
The benefits of white crystalline urea include:
Field application benefit
Urea has low dust and is non-corrosive tendency compared to other ammonium nitrate and phosphate fertilizers making it easy to apply on crop fields using different application equipment without causing damage or inhibiting airflow. It remains effective when crops are applied with urea before or after planting.
Soil absorption benefit
Urea has high soil absorption affinity which allows it to dissolve quickly when applied to moist soil and become available to plants. Because of this, it can be applied in different planting seasons without negatively affecting seeding or young plants.
Utilization by crops
Urea is converted to ammonia and carbon ions in the soil by the enzyme urease. Ammonia is plant nitrogen that aids crops produce green foliage and leaves and improves crop yield. Urea also improves root and shoot development, enhances chlorophyll production for photosynthesis, and boosts overall crop health and disease resistance because of the nitrogen content absorbed by the plants.
Livestock supplementation
Urea is also used in livestock as protein source supplementation mixed with other feed ingredients and water. It aids in healthy rumen fermentation and mineralizes absorbed nitrogen from urea into ammonia which is then utilized by microbes to synthesize amino acids crucial for meat and milk production in cattle, goats, and sheep.
Environmental impact
Urea has no harmful effect on crops, humans, or animals when used reasonably. Also, when produced, it utilizes carbon dioxide, a notorious greenhouse gas element, and converts it to nutrients that nourish the crops with high benefits to the environment. Urea has no negative impact on soil health or water sources when applied properly and has a tendency to increase long-term agricultural sustainability.
White nitrogen urea is produced with a long shelf life both in the field, during transportation, and storage. It can be stored in open containers, covered heaps, and simple bags, or transported in trucks and boats that are not specially designed high for humidity and moisture is not allowed to come in contact with it.
Its crystals easily get wet and can easily give rise to lumps that make them hard to work with. When concrete is used for storage purposes, all joints should be carefully filled with sealant cement to prevent moisture or water seepage. Metal bins are also recommended for storage because metal has a higher tendency to be worn by nature than wood through dampness. The bins should have a roof over them to keep the moisture away and the urea inside the bin dry. When transported in vehicles, the vehicle should be first lined with tarpaulin and waterproof cloth. The rain should be prevented from entering the load deck by closing eaves and gables around the top edges of the products. To ensure long shelf life, sellers should store the urea in a dry and covered place, free from any chance of contact with water, steam, or high-humidity atmosphere. The following are also ways to store and transport white crystalline urea:
Storage conditions
Urea should be kept in dry, cool conditions with temperature below 30°C that will not allow it cake or break down chemically. It is hygienically stored in bags, bins, silos, or warehouses, and the containers are sealed properly to avoid moisture ingress. There is forced ventilation, and humidity level is monitored to prevent dampness.
Transportation methods
Urea is transported in bulk in covered trucks, trains, or ships. The vehicles are lined with tarpaulin, and humidity is controlled to ensure urea for sale remains in pristine condition. The load is protected from rain and high humidity by closing eaves and gables around the top edges. During the transportation process, exertion is made that constant monitoring of temperature and humidity is observed to prevent urea from seeping into one another and forming lumps.
Handling precautions
While handling urea, care must be taken to prevent the contact between urea and moisture, as it will reduce the effectiveness of urea due to lumping and caking. While loading and unloading, equipment is required to minimize spills and exposure to wet conditions is practiced. When being transported in vehicles, vehicles are required to be covered tarpaulin to keep urea dry and clean.
Cool storage
Urea should be stored in places with sheltered or cool temperatures, below 30°C to prevent it from caking because of high heat. When moisture and heat combine, urea creates a dense mass that makes it hard for farmers to apply or use in other ways because it loses its identity as a granular material. At high humidity and heat, urea crystals absorb moisture from the environment and fuse together to form larger masses of crystals or even a solid block. Maintaining the cool temperature not only minimizes caking but also inhibits chemical decomposition of urea and keeps it effective for application as a fertilizer or other uses.
A1: White urea is used widely as fertilizer for plants and crops by farmers because it contains high nitrogen concentration that consists of 46% N. It helps nourish the crops and improve the yield and health of the plant. It is also used to supplement protein in ruminant livestock to boost better meat and milk production. In the industries, manufacturers use urea as raw materials for making melamine formaldehyde resins utilized in creating particleboards and other furniture.
A2: Urea is relatively safe when applied in farming, used in feeding livestock, and during industrial applications. However, caution should be practiced when handling it because of the high tendency of urea to absorb moisture from the air, which cause caking or dust formation that may cause respiratory hazard. Wet or caked urea can also obscure the hazards associated with its handling, leading to slip trip accidents if not managed properly. While working with urea, protective gear like gloves, face masks, and goggles are advised to reduce contact with dust and neon clumping of particles.
A3: No, urea doesn't contribute to soil acidification. It is alkaline when applied to soil and neutrally affects soil pH because it dissolves and releases hydroxide ions which reduce soil acidity and increase soil pH. However, when nitrogenous fertilizers containing urea are applied to soil in excess, they will create a condition that may lead to leaching and loss of some alkaline elements and resultant washout of other acids, which may cause temporary but not permanent soil acidification.
A4: Before storage, white crystalline urea should be assessed to ensure that it is dry and moisture does not come in contact with any of the crystals. Once urea absorbs moisture, it lumps together, and there's also nitrogen loss from denitrification. To assess the viability of stored urea, open the storage container to observe whether the urea has the typical white crystalline color appearance. If many dust crystals are present, it means the urea is still viable, but if many big lumps or masses are also present, then vahebungas lost from the nitrogen will likely escape.
