Home page » Useful information » Urea Production

Urea Production

Ammonia and carbon dioxide are used as the starting raw materials for the production of Urea (carbamide).

Carbamide was first synthesized in 1870.

Urea Production Process

The process proceeds in two stages:

First, ammonium carbamate is obtained, described by the reaction:

2NH3 (gas) + CO2 (gas) = NH2COONH4 + 125.6 kJ

In the second stage, water is separated and urea is ultimately formed:

NH2COONH4 = CO(NH2)2 + H2O — 15.5 kJ

The entire production process can be described by a single formula (removing the intermediate stage) as follows:

2NH3 + CO2 = CO(NH2)2 + H2O, releasing heat.

It should be noted that both of these reactions are reversible, and the equilibrium will be determined by the temperature of the medium, pressure, and the amount of water, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.

The optimal process temperature is 220 degrees. With an excess of ammonia, the pressure will be about 33 MPa. An excess of carbon dioxide has practically no effect.

When the urea production process takes place at a temperature of 190 degrees or higher, the time required is about one hour. At, for example, 150 degrees, it already takes several hours.

At the same time, as the temperature increases, corrosive activity becomes more intense. This complicates the technological protection of the plant and increases energy consumption. Therefore, for industrial production, a temperature of 190 degrees and a pressure of 19.5 MPa are typically used.

Methods have been developed for production at both lower and higher pressures, but they are not widely used.

Urea Production — Process Features

Some of the ammonia and carbon dioxide entering the plant does not have time to react. Therefore, they must be sent back into the process. If they are returned according to the technology, this scheme is called closed. However, these substances can go further and be used to obtain ammonium nitrate or other substances — in that case, the scheme is called open.

After the urea is obtained, it is sent for granulation. Then follows the cooling process and screening out of off-spec material — the size of marketable agglomerates must be in the range of 1-4mm. Off-spec material is dissolved and sent back into the production process again.

You can buy Urea wholesale in Moscow from our company by writing to order@chimko.com or calling us at +7(495)133-02-40

• ← Go back