I work at a coal fired power plant. My supervisor recently mentioned that to further reduce NOx emissions (beyond our current boiler modifications) we could add a urea reagent into the air quality control system. As a joke I wanted to ask him where we got the urea from (the bathroom? haha).

 

Seriously, to the point...how is urea manufactured? I've tried to research my answer and all I get is pee-related stuff and vendors that sell it for ag fertilizer.

 

But how's it made? I'm just curious about the basics. I don't want to make my own or anything. So if anyone knows, just please give me the "Urea for Dummies" version. hehe

 

thanks in advance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea look under industrial methods.

 

or google Bosch-Meiser urea process.

 

but essentally it is just ammonia + carbon dioxide

ah, thanks for the link. I guess I didn't do the right search at wiki..

 

I was under the impression that urea was a waste protein in bio processes...but now I realize how simple the molecule is.

 

I didn't know that urea is in sweat. Interesting. Now I can really freak my wife out next time she kisses my cheek and I'm sweaty from yardwork. heh

It's produced in huge quantities by lifeforms on this planet, but the purification is really hard. It's cheaper to use the process as was linked to by insane_alien.