Scientists developed a greener electrochemical process converting urea from urine into percarbamide, a crystalline peroxide derivative. Using graphitic carbon catalysts, the method extracts pure percarbamide for slow-release nitrogen fertilizer, stimulating root respiration and nutrient uptake. This sustainable technique treats wastewater, promotes a circular economy, and significantly reduces synthetic fertilizer reliance.
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Scientists created a new electrochemical method for efficiently extracting urea from urine.
The new electrochemical process converts urea from urine to percarbamide, a crystalline peroxide derivative.
The process addresses two issues at once: treating urine in urban wastewater and converting it into a valuable resource.
Researchers developed an in-situ electrochemical technique using graphitic carbon-based catalysts to convert urea in urine into percarbamide.
The process achieves almost 100% purity and effectively extracts percarbamide from both human and animal urine.
It produces a slow release of nitrogen, which is required for plant growth. When compared to rapidly dissolving nitrogen fertilisers, this slow release reduces the risk of nutrient leaching while increasing nutrient use efficiency.
The decomposition of percarbamide releases hydrogen peroxide, which breaks down into water and oxygen. This oxygen stimulates root respiration; essential for nutrient and water uptake, and leads to stronger root development.
It solves the problem of treating urea-rich urban wastewater by transforming it into a useful product.
The process transforms a waste product (urine) into a valuable resource (fertilizer), promoting a circular economy approach. By returning nitrogen from human waste to the soil, it helps close the nitrogen cycle, reducing the need for energy-intensive industrial processes to produce synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
The electrochemical technique described is a greener, less energy-consuming process compared to traditional fertilizer production methods.
It serves as a bleaching agent in laundry detergents, toothpastes, and hair bleaching products.
It functions as a disinfectant and antiseptic in cleaning solutions and personal care products.
In chemical reactions, percarbamide can supply oxygen for other processes in a controlled manner.
In the laboratory, it acts as a more stable and easy-to-handle alternative to liquid hydrogen peroxide, serving as an effective oxidizing agent in various organic reactions.
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Percarbamide is classified as a hazardous substance. It can cause severe skin burns and eye damage and may intensify fire as an oxidizer. |
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