Urea Bulk Density
Tech Blog urea bulk density Urea – whether used as a high nitrogen fertilizer, industrial production raw material, or a component of diesel exhaust fluid
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In modern agriculture, urea is one of the most widely used high-efficiency nitrogen fertilizers globally, and its high nitrogen content (typically 46%) makes it a cost-effective choice for promoting crop growth. Among various forms of urea, prilled urea is highly favored due to its uniform particle size, ease of handling, and stable nutrient supply capacity.
Prilled urea is produced through a process called “granulation” or “spray granulation”. During this process, the completed urea solution is sprayed into a high cooling tower. When the mold falls, it rapidly cools and solidifies in the counter-current cold air, forming small, round, and freely flowing particles.
Compared to another common form (granular urea), prilled urea has a smaller particle size (usually 1-2 millimeters), good flowability, and faster water solubility.
The specifications of prilled urea are developed by international organizations (such as ISO, ASTM) and regional authoritative organizations to ensure quality, safety, and consistency. The following are the key parameters that need to be evaluated with emphasis:
Specification requirement: The minimum nitrogen content is 46.0% (mass fraction).
This is the most basic specification for prilled urea, as its core function is to provide nitrogen for both agricultural and industrial applications.
Importance: If the nitrogen content is less than 46%, it indicates that the product contains impurities or the production process is incomplete, which directly reduces its effectiveness. For example, in agriculture, the application of low nitrogen granular urea needs to be increased to meet crop nutrient requirements, which not only increases costs but also causes waste.
Detection method: commonly used Kjeldahl method (nitrogen analysis standard method) or infrared spectroscopy method (faster and suitable for on-site detection).
Specification requirement: 90% to 95% of the particle size should be within the range of 1.0 to 2.0 millimeters (slightly different standards, such as ISO 8603 partial grades, allowing 0.85 to 2.8 millimeters).
Uniform particle size is a prerequisite for ensuring consistency in handling, dissolution, and nutrient release.
Importance:
Detection method: Screening analysis – passes granular urea through a series of standard sieves with different pore sizes, separates and weighs particles of different sizes.
Specification requirement: On a dry basis, the maximum moisture content is 0.5%. Prilled urea has hygroscopicity (it absorbs moisture from the air), so low moisture content is the key to preventing clumping.
Importance: Excessive moisture can cause particle adhesion and clumping, which not only makes it difficult to evenly spread in agriculture but also affects the feeding efficiency of industrial equipment (such as resin production equipment). The uneven dissolution of clumped particles can easily form nutrient “hotspots” (resulting in local concentrations that are too high) or lead to inefficient production processes.
Detection method: Loss on Drying (LOD) – Heat the sample at 105 ℃ until the weight stabilizes, and calculate the moisture content based on the weight difference.
Specification requirements: The maximum content of urea and biuret in agricultural granules is 0.5% -1.0% (mass fraction); Industrial grade products are allowed a maximum of 2.0%.
Biuret is a byproduct of urea production (generated when molten urea is overheated), which is toxic to plants, especially to seedlings and sensitive crops such as citrus, tobacco, and soybeans.
Importance: If the content of urea exceeds 1.0%, it can cause yellowing of crop leaves, growth inhibition, and even death in severe cases. If used for foliar fertilization (directly sprayed on leaves), the urea content should be less than 0.5% to avoid burning the leaves.
Detection method: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or colorimetric method (using chemical reagents to detect biuret).
The particles need to have sufficient hardness to resist crushing during transportation, storage, and application (such as spreading through a fertilizer applicator).
Importance: Particle breakage generates dust, which leads to nitrogen volatilization loss (converted into ammonia) and uneven application. In industrial scenarios, dust may also contaminate production processes or pose a risk of explosion (urea dust is flammable at high concentrations).
Testing method: Use a compression tester to measure the force required to crush a single particle, and take the average as the final result.
Specification requirement: pH value of 6.0-8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline).
The pH value of a Prilled urea aqueous solution can affect its compatibility with other fertilizers or industrial chemicals, and indirectly affect soil pH.
Importance:
Detection method: Dissolve Prilled urea in deionized water to prepare a 10% concentration solution, and then measure the pH with a calibrated pH meter.
High-quality bead-like pigments are usually pure white, and abnormal color may indicate differences or improper production process control.
The melting point of urea is approximately 132 °C. This is an inherent physical property used for identification and quality control.
The specification of prilled urea is the key to improving its high efficiency, quality, and performance. From high nitrogen content to low concentration and moisture content, as well as ideal particle size distribution and compressive strength, every parameter is crucial for the effective utilization of urea in agriculture. Whether used for agricultural fertilization or industrial production, it is essential to confirm that Prilled urea meets international standards and specific requirements for application scenarios.
Jinjiang chemical, as a Chinese urea manufacture, provides high-quality granular urea. Please feel free to inquire
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