Urea
For industrial use, urea is produced from synthetic ammonia and carbon dioxide. Because large amounts of carbon dioxide are produced during the ammonia production process as a byproduct from hydrocarbons (mainly natural gas, or less petroleum derivatives) or sometimes from coal (steam shift reaction), urea plants almost always are located in the vicinity of the site.
Urea is an important raw material for the production of many chemical compounds, such as:
- Types of plastics, especially urea formaldehyde resins.
- Types of adhesives, such as urea formaldehyde and urea melamine formaldehyde, which are used in the production of plywood for water.
- Potassium cyanate, as a raw material for some industries.