how is industrial urea made?

[dirtyamerica]

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

[insane_alien]

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

 

or google Bosch-Meiser urea process.

 

but essentally it is just ammonia + carbon dioxide

[dirtyamerica]

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

[CaptainPanic]

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.