Description of Urea
Urea is an organic compound. It is one of the primary components of mammal urine and is responsible for the distinctive smell, though the substance apart from water has no odor. Its chemical makeup at the molecular level is a single carbon monoxide molecule (CO) combined with two molecules of amidogen (NH2). This substance is neither acidic nor basic when dissolved in water.
Fertilizer prices declined 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2019 after three consecutive quarterly increases, with urea and DAP (diammonium phosphate) prices experiencing significant price drops. The World Bank’s Fertilizer Price Index is projected to recover and gain 4.8 percent in 2019, according to the latest. This largely reflects an increase in MOP (potassium chloride) prices, while urea prices are forecast to remain relatively unchanged and DAP prices to fall. Risks to the outlook include sanctions in Iran, trade tensions, supply disruptions, and uncertainty over agricultural production, input costs, and environmental policies.
Urea, DAP, and MOP prices
Fertilizer prices (and hence, demand) are also subject to uncertainty around agricultural production. Downside price risks emanate from worsening weather conditions and the African Swine Fever outbreak (see earlier blog on food prices). Upside risks include the possibility of another big harvest this year in the Southern Hemisphere, which has recorded bumper crops in recent years. Fertilizer application in North America could also pick up in the spring season following limited application last fall due to early snow. Lastly, production decisions in the United States could be impacted by the recently announced $16 billion support program, most of which is expected to take place in the form of direct transfers.
Urea comes in many different forms and grades, including Urea Prilled USP, Urea FCC grade, Urea Ultrapure, Biotech Grade, Crystal Reagent ACS, and more. Spectrum Chemical has exactly the form and grade of Urea for your lab needs. Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound and serves a role in the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds by animals. It is also known to be the nitrogen-containing substance in mammal urine. Urea has no color or odor and is soluble in water. It is neither alkaline nor acidic once it is dissolved in water and is commonly used in fertilizers as a nitrogen source. It is important in the chemical industry as a raw material.
Though urea is an organic waste product, it has many useful applications in the chemical industry. It is a source of raw materials for manufacturers of fertilizer because the nitrogen can be extracted. Urea can also be synthesized in order to supply these needs.
Most important in today’s industries, urea is a critical element in the production of plastics and adhesives. This gives urea applications in a wide range of industries, including automotive and medical manufacturing. Researchers continue to find new ways to utilize urea.
