Sub-Product

Urea is an Organic Compound with chemical formula CO(NH₂)₂. This Amide has two Amino Groups (–NH₂) joined by a Carbonyl Functional Group (–C(=O)–). It is thus the simplest Amide of Carbamic Acid.^[1]

Urea is produced commercially by several Steps, which begin with the direct reaction of Ammonia with Carbon Dioxide (Fig. 1) in a high pressure, high temperature Reactor. It is a very important starting Material in a number of Chemical Syntheses, and is used on an industrial scale for the Manufacture of Fertilisers, Pharmaceuticals and Resins.^[2]

Figure 1 - Synthesis of Urea

1. Urea, Wikipedia

2. Urea, Imperial College of London

3. An overview of CO2 capture technologies - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from:https://www.researchgate.net/figure/ndustrial-synthesis-of-urea-from-CO-2-and-thermodynamics-of-the-process_fig11_265122194. [accessed 7 Feb, 2023]