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Nano Urea the Philosophy of Future

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DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15790.43845

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Nano Urea the Philosophy of Future

By
Prem Baboo
Former Sr. Manager
National Fertilizers Ltd. India

Abstract
Introduction
Prills /granular urea are not only costly for the
Nano sized fertilizers are the new frontier of
producer but may be harmful to humans and the
nanotechnology towards a sustainable
environment. Furthermore, nano Urea may also
agriculture. Nano Urea manufacturing method
be used for enhancing abiotic stress tolerance.
provide a simplistic way to develop nano scale
Nano-Urea prevents environmental pollution and
material for better crop production while
improves physiological traits of wheat grown
significantly minimizing the agro chemical
under drought stress conditions. The nano urea
leaching to the soil. Nano Urea (Liquid)
consist of higher surface area because lesser in
contains nano scale nitrogen particles which
size of the nano particle and have high
have more surface area (10,000 times over 1
reactivity, solubility in water. Nano Urea are the
mm Urea prill) and number of particles (55,000
important tools in agriculture to improve crop
nitrogen particles over 1 mm Urea prill). ...
efficiency, yield and quality parameters with
Further, application of nano urea (liquid)
increase nutrient use efficiency, reduce wastage
improves yield, biomass, soil health and
of fertilizers and cost of cultivation. Nano-urea
nutritional quality of the produce.
is very effective for precise nutrient management
Technical specifications:
in precision agriculture with matching the crop
Major characteristic features of the Nano
growth stage for nutrient and may provide
Urea are as follows -
nutrient throughout the crop growth period.
Nano urea prepared by nanotechnology contains
Nano-Urea increase crop growth up to optimum
nano scale particles of Nano Urea. Average
concentrations further increase in concentration
physical size of Nano Urea particles is in the
may inhibit the crop growth due to the toxicity
range of 20 -50 nm. Nano Urea contains 4 %
of nutrient. Nano-Urea provide more surface
nitrogen by weight in its nano form. Nitrogen
area for different metabolic reactions in the plant
present in Nano Urea effectively meets the crop
which increase rate of photosynthesis and
nitrogen requirement. It has better use efficiency
produce more dry matter and yield of the crop. It
than conventional urea. Nano Urea is suitable for
is also prevent plant from different biotic and
application as a source of nitrogen for most of
abiotic stress.
the crops/plants.
Keyword’s
Nano, Urea, efficiency, nano-nitrogen,
environmental pollution; drought stress; wheat;
physiological traits; conventional urea.

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Process Description
Ammonia and carbon dioxide are conventionally
used as reactants in the manufacture of urea. The
ammonia and car bon dioxide are fed into a
reactor maintained at a temperature of 180-
2NH3 + CO2 →NH2COONH4 (ammonium
Carbamate)
NH2COONH4 →H2O + NH2CONH2 (urea)
Both reactions are reversible reactions with the
first one being exothermic and the later
endothermic. The overall con version rate of
CO2 to urea is usually about 65%.
Present methods described herein allow for an
increase in the conversion rate to over 85% and
also allow for the production of urea particles
with superior properties. The methods described
herein can be used to produce a nano-urea which
can be easily absorbed in the soil and controlled
hydrolysis to ammonia takes place.
A first method involves the use of a spinning
cone reactor as a Surface for carrying out the
synthesis of nano urea. Spinning cone reactors
are shown in the figure- 1.This technology uses
the rotating Surfaces for systems which are heat
and mass transfer limited, to achieve good
mixing and product yield for viscous reactants.
Nano urea can be manufactured using such
rotating Surfaces for a faster reaction and lower
residence times. In this method, the primary
reactants (ammonia and carbon dioxide) are
reacted on spinning cones which are axially
rotated on a common shaft. Centrifugal forces
produced by the spinning of the cones cause
shearing and formation of thin films leading to
process intensification and improvement in heat
and mass transfer rates. Additionally this
mechanism also facilitates atomization of the
nano urea particles and can render Surface
modification for desired properties in the
product.
A second method involves the use of a nano-
channel reactor. Nano-channel reactors are know
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210°C. And a pressure of 180 bar. Reactions
involved in the manufacture of urea are as
follows:
for example, discloses chemical nano channel
reactors with micron-scale and nano scale pores
for gas sensing applications. Nano-channel
reactors have high density nano-pores in the
reaction Zone which facilitate faster reaction and
higher conversion rates. The nano channel
reactor concept can be used to increase the
reactivity of heterogeneous gas mixtures such as
ammonia and carbon dioxide to molecular levels
in-situ nano channels, thereby increasing the
conversion rates to produce nano urea particles.
High density nano channels can be fabricated
with Suitable materials to carry-out liquid phase
reactions such as the production of nano urea.
As described herein, carbon dioxide and
ammonia are fed into a nano-channel reactor.
For example, the carbon dioxide and ammonia
can be fed through nano channels having pore
sizes in the range of 100-500 nm. The two step
reaction for the formation of urea can be carried
out in-situ the channels. The reactants can be
pressurized through the nano channels to
increase reactivity and lower residence times
compared to conventional urea processes. A
further method involves the use of the
combustion syn thesis technique. For example,
discloses a method of preparation of making an
aqueous solution of a metal nitrate and an
oxidizer by combustion synthesis. As described
herein, an ammonia Source (e.g. ammonium
nitrate), a fuel (e.g. natural gas) and a CO,
Source (e.g. dry ice) are used. The ammonia
Source and CO2 are mixed (e.g., in an inert
atmosphere) and heated until the ammonia
Source (e.g., ammonium nitrate) decomposes.
Once the decomposition temperature of the
oxidizer is reached, a sudden gush of fuel is
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released into the reactor. The sudden flow of
fuel causes combustion and its propagation with
very high reaction temperatures there by forming
nano sized urea particles when combustion is
complete and on cooling. The fuel used can be
natural gas. The combustion synthesis takes
place with the reaction products being urea.
A second method involves the use of a nano-
channel reactor. Nano-channel reactors, for
example, discloses chemical nano channel
reactors with micron-scale and nano scale pores
for gas sensing applications. Nano-channel
reactors have high density nano-pores in the
reaction Zone which facilitate faster reaction and
higher conversion rates. The nano channel
reactor concept can be used to increase the
reactivity of heterogeneous gas mixtures such as
ammonia and carbon dioxide to molecular levels
in-situ nano channels, thereby increasing the
conversion rates to produce nano urea particles.
High density nano channels can be fabricated
with Suitable materials to carry-out liquid phase
reactions such as the production of nano urea.
As described herein, carbon dioxide and
ammonia are fed into a nano-channel reactor.
For example, the carbon dioxide and ammonia
can be fed through nano channels having pore
sizes in the range of 100-500 nm. The two step
reaction for the formation of urea can be carried
out in-situ the channels. The reactants can be
pressurized through the nano channels to
increase reactivity and lower residence times
compared to conventional urea processes. for
example, discloses a method of preparation of
making an aqueous solution of a metal nitrate
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and an oxidizer by combustion synthesis. As
described herein, an ammonia Source (e.g.
ammonium nitrate), a fuel (e.g. natural gas) and
a CO, Source (e.g. dry ice) are used. The
ammonia Source and CO2 are mixed (e.g., in an
inert atmosphere) and heated until the ammonia
Source (e.g., ammonium nitrate) decomposes.
Once the decomposition temperature of the
oxidizer is reached, a sudden gush of fuel is
released into the reactor. The sudden flow of
fuel causes combustion and its propagation with
very high reaction temperatures there by forming
nano sized urea particles when combustion is
complete and on cooling. The fuel used can be
natural gas. The combustion synthesis takes
place with the reaction products being urea.
An alternate method using a modified
combustion synthesis technique can also be
efficiently used in deriving more than one
product utilizing minimum energy requirements.
In this technique, the processes such as
combustion of certain metal nitrates to oxides or
the nitriding combustion synthesis of metals to
their nitrides generates excess amounts of
exothermic energy which can be utilized in the
production of urea. The excess energy released
from the combustion reaction can now be used
for two major purposes. Part of the energy is
used to decompose an ammonium salt (i.e.
ammonium bicarbonate) into ammonia and
carbon dioxide as primary raw materials for urea
manufacture and a major part in the synthesis
reaction to urea. This method is cost effective
route to synthesize two products using minimum
energy requirements.
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Fig-1

Fig-2

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Fig-3
Benefits of Nano Urea
Nano Urea (liquid) has manifold benefits:
1. Reduces the requirement
conventional Urea by 50% or more
2. Required less and produces more:
Efficacy of one bottle of Nano Urea
(500 mL) is equivalent to one bag of
urea.
3. Environment friendly produc product, can
improve Soil, Air & Water quality thus,
helps in addressing the concerns of
Global Warming and in meeting the UN
SDGs.
4. Cheaper than conventional urea.
5. Reduce input cost to farmers, leads to
increase in farmers’ income.
6. Improves crop productivity, so soil health
and nutritional quality of produce.
When sprayed on leaves Nano Urea
easily enters through stomata and other
of openings and is assimilated by the plant
cells. It is easily distributed through
phloem from source to sink inside the
plant as per its need.
eed. Unutilized nitrogen
is stored in the plant vacuole and is
slowly released for proper growth and
development of plant. Nano Urea
(Liquid) does not involve any
government subsidy and will be made
available to farmers at a 10% lower
price than a bag of subsidized
s Urea.
Transportation would be easier and
economical, as one 500 ml bottle would
be equivalent to one bag of regular urea
fertilizer. Due to the ultra-small
ultra size and
surface properties of nano urea, it gets
absorbed by the plants when sprayed on

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their leaves. Upon penetration, these
nano particles reach plant parts where
nitrogen is required and release nutrients
in a controlled manner.
7. Nano Urea is developed to replace
conventional urea and it can curtail the
requirement of the same by at least 50
per cent. It contains 40,000 parts per
million (ppm) of Nitrogen in a 500 ml
bottle, which is equivalent to the impact
Fig-4
8. To test its efficacy, around 11,000
farmer field trials were undertaken on
more than 94 crops across India and
results showed an average 8 per cent
increase in crop yields.
9. Nano urea has been included in the
government''s Fertiliser Control Order
after the field trials were undertaken
under National Agriculture Research
System (NARS), 20 ICAR research
institutes, State Agriculture Universities
and Krishi Vighyana Kendras on 43
crops
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of nitrogen nutrient provided by one bag
of conventional urea means 50 kg, As
shown in the figure-4.
To test its efficacy around 11,000 farmer field
trials were undertaken on 94 crops, an average
8% increase in yield has been witnessed. also
Nano Urea Liquid can curtail conventional urea
requirement by at least 50% and promote a
balanced nutrition programme.
10. The new nano urea liquid will increase
the production of crops with improved
nutritional quality. Cheaper than
conventional urea, the new product is
also expected to reduce the
environmental pollution caused by the
granular form, by reducing its excessive
application that exacerbates soil, water
and air pollution with climate change
problems.
11. The size of one nano urea liquid particle
is 30 nano meter and compared to the
conventional granular urea it has about
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10,000 times more surface area to for biosafety and toxicity according to norms
volume size. Due to the ultra-small size followed in India and the international
and surface properties, the nano urea guidelines developed by OECD, which are
liquid gets absorbed by plants more adopted and accepted globally.
effectively when sprayed on their leaves.
APPLICATIONS
Apart from being cost-effective, nano urea liquid
also promises to provide a sustainable solution Mix 2 to 4 ml of Nano urea in one Liter of water
for plant nutrition as despite lower usage than its and spray on crop leaves at active growth stages.
current version, it provides higher nutrient For best results apply 2 foliar sprays.1st spray at
efficiency for crops while reducing soil, water active tillering / branching stage (30-35 Days
and air pollution. As of now, just 30-50 per cent after Germination or 20-25 Days after
of nitrogen from urea is utilized by plants in Transplanting).2nd spray 20-25 days after 1st
farms while the rest goes waste due to quick spray or before flowering in the crop.
chemical transformation because of leaching, Note – Don’t cut nitrogen applied through DAP
which contaminates soil and water bodies, or complex fertilizer at the basal stage. Reduce
and volatilization that causes emissions of only top dressed Urea applied in 2-3 splits;
nitrous oxide in the atmosphere — leading to air Number of sprays of Nano Urea can be
pollution and global warming along with low increased depending upon crop and its nitrogen
nutritional efficiency for the crop. However, requirement)
while conventional urea is effective just for 30- APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
50 per cent in delivering nitrogen to plants, the 1. Shake well the bottle before use.
effectiveness of the nano urea liquid is over 80 2. Use flat fan or cut nozzles for spraying
per cent. A major reason for this increase in on the leaves.
efficiency is because of the fact that 3. Spray during morning or evening hours
nanotechnology, which is the base of this new avoiding dew.
form of urea, enables designing ultra-small 4. If rain occurs within 12 hours of the
particles that offer higher surface-mass ratios, spray of Nano urea, it is advised to
and help in the controlled delivery of plant repeat the spray.
nutrients. The size of one nano urea liquid 5. Nano Urea can easily be mixed with
particle is 30 nanometre and compared to the biostimulants, 100 % water-soluble
conventional granular urea it has about 10,000 fertilizers and agrochemicals. It is
times more surface area to volume size. Due to always advised to go for a jar test before
the ultra-small size and surface properties, the mixing and spraying for compatibility.
nano urea liquid gets absorbed by plants more 6. For better result Nano urea should be
effectively when sprayed on their leaves. used within 2 years from the date of its
Upon penetration, these nano particles reach manufacturing.
plant parts where nitrogen is required and
SAFETY & PRECAUTIONS
release nutrients in a controlled manner, thereby 1. Nano-Urea has been tested for bio
reducing usage while also reducing wastage into safety and toxicity as per the
the environment. Furthermore, aside from guidelines of the Department of
improving yield, soil health and nutritional Biotechnology (DBT), Government
quality of crop, nano urea has also been tested

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of India and OECD international role of nanomaterials in agriculture. In

guidelines. Microbial Inoculants in Sustainable
2. Nano urea is safe for the user; safe Agricultural Productivity; Singh, D.P.,
for flora and fauna and is non-toxic, Singh, H.B., Prabha, R., Eds.; Springer:
however, it is recommended to use a New Delhi, India, 2016.
face mask and gloves while spraying 3. Shang.,Y,K.H. Md,J.A. Golam,L.
on the crop. Mengqi,Y. Hanqin and Z.Jie .2019.
3. Store in a dry place avoiding high Applications of Nanotechnology in Plant
temperature and keep away from the Growth and Crop Protection: A Review,
reach of children and pets. Molecules.
CONCLUSIONS
In India, IFFCO developed nanotechnology
based Nano Urea (Liquid) fertilizer to address
the imbalanced and excessive use of
conventional Urea. According to the problem of
environmental pollution and hunger dilemma of
the growing population of the world, it seems
that the use of nano-urea can not only reduce
environmental pollution, eutrophication,
pollution of groundwater and diseases caused by
overusing of conventional urea prills/granular,
but also due to smaller particle diameters, with
more penetration into the roots and leaves of
plants can improve the physiological traits and
yield of crops. Therefore, it is recommended to
replace nano-urea with conventional fertilizers,
especially in sandy soils due to the possibility of
more leaching of conventional urea fertilizer and
groundwater pollution. The biotic and abiotic
constraints which limits the agricultural
productivity furthermore has an effect on human
health and use of exclusive nano fertilizers to
improving crop production in agriculture.
References
1. Intelligent, Nano-fertilizers: A New
Technology for Improvement Nutrient
Use Efficiency (Article Review) To cite
this article: Hayyawi W.A. Al-Juthery et
al 2021 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ.
Sci. 735 01208
2. Dwivedi, S.; Saquib, Q.; Al-Khedhairy,
A.A.; Musarrat, J. Understanding the

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