Urea {AU-SA}}| urea production, adjusted from ROW | AusLCI, U
Unit process v00.00.001
This dataset is a weighted average from the respective regional datasets. This dataset represents the production of 1 kg of urea, with 46% N. Urea (formula CO(NH2)2) is a an organic chemical compound naturally found in the urine of mammals that serves an important role in the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds. It is a colorless, odorless solid, highly soluble in water, and practically non-toxic. When dissolved in water, it is neither acidic nor alkaline. Over 90% of the world industrial production of urea is for its use as nitrogen (N) fertiliser. It is also used as raw material for the manufacturing of resins, explosives, and various medical and laboratory applications. Urea is produced from synthetic ammonia and carbon dioxide under high pressure (known as the Bosch–Meiser urea process). As large quantities of carbon dioxide are produced during the ammonia manufacturing process, urea production units are most often combined with an ammonia plant. All the carbon dioxide used in the process is therefore recovered from the ammonia synthesis. The amount of CO2 recovered from the ammonia synthesis and used in urea production, will be inevitably and completely released back to the atmosphere after application of urea to the soil. The process generates ammonium carbamate, which is then dehydrated with heat to form urea and water: 2NH3 + CO2 ? NH2COONH4 ? CO(NH2)2 + H2O The main data sources for this dataset are Fertilizers Europe (2014, 2016). Additional data sources are listed as follows. References: Fertilizers Europe (2000): Best Available Techniques for Pollution Prevention and Control in the European Fertilizer Industry. Booklet No. 1 of 8: Production of Ammonia. Fertilizers Europe, Brussels. Kongshaug G. (1998): Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Fertilizer Production. IFA 20th July 1998 Davies J., Haglund C. (1999): Life Cycle Inventory of Fertiliser Production. SIK-Report No 654 1999. Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. Fertilizers Europe (2014): Average Emissions Year 2011. Fertilizers Europe Environmental report (internal). Fertilizers Europe (2000): Best Available Techniques for Pollution Prevention and Control in the European Fertilizer Industry. Booklet No. 5 of 8: Production of urea and urea ammonium nitrate. Fertilizers Europe, Brussels. Fertilizers Europe (2016): Carbon Footprint Calculator for Fertilizer Production. Specification. Version 2.1 Fertilizers Europe (2016): Average Emissions Year 2014. Fertilizers Europe Environmental report (internal). Used for updated energy and GHG emission in Carbon Footprint Calculator Synonym: Carbamide CAS number: 000057-13-6 Production volume: 7.76971E10 kg Included activities start: The activity includes all the raw and processed materials necessary to produce this product. Liquid ammonia, carbon dioxide, steam and electricity are included. Direct emissions of ammonia, carbon dioxide and particulate matter to air as well as ammonium ion and nitrogen to water are included. Included activities end: The activity ends with the final product being ready for transportation at the production site. Geography: The inventory is modelled for Rest-of-World Technology level: Current Technology: Average techlogy from the regional counterparts as given in the geography comment. Start date: 01/01/2011 End date: 31/12/2024 Is data valid for entire period: True Time period: Primary data were collected on fertiliser production for the year 2011. These data were based on annual average data for the year 2011. Macro-economic scenario name: Business-as-Usual Version: 4.3.0.0 Created: 5/28/20 7:00:02 Last edited: 8/5/20 6:06:29 Source: 8ba920a5-2658-53ed-bc40-e67b60fb9cd5_9e0c9c28-7d8f-4f18-a769-bff3a4c8c1e5.spold UUID: 8ba920a5-2658-53ed-bc40-e67b60fb9cd5 Record: data entry by: Xavier Bengoa Quantis Generator: generated by: Anna Kounina Quantis
- Sector
- Other Materials
- Contributor
- —
- Last updated
- 12 Oct 2026
- Reference ID
5989bd44-5835-3236-8ad1-bf0e0d8681bb
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Documentation
- Quantitative reference
- Urea {AU-SA}}| urea production, adjusted from ROW | AusLCI, U
- Sampling procedure
- —
- Creation date
- 28 May 2020
- Is copyright protected
- No
- Is infrastructure process
- No
- Tags
- material
- Sources
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Ecoinvent 3
Product outputs
| Flow | Amount | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urea {AU-SA}}| urea production, adjusted from ROW | AusLCI, U | 1.0 | kg | Carbon content, fossil: 0.199994671559951 kg C/kg dry mass Carbon content, non-fossil: 0.0 kg C/kg dry mass Dry mass: 1.0 kg Heating value, net: 14.1307908817135 MJ Wet mass: 1.0 kg |
Technical inputs
| Flow | Amount | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia, anhydrous, liquid {SA}|ammonia production, steam reforming, liquid, adjusted from ROW | AusLCI, U | 0.5669999999999998 | kg | — |
| Carbon dioxide, in chemical industry {RoW}| ammonia production, steam reforming, liquid | Cut-off, U | 0.77112 | kg | This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Chemical factory, organics {GLO}| market for chemical factory, organics | Cut-off, U | 0.0000000004 | Item(s) | (3,4,5,5,5,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Electricity, low voltage {SA}| market for electricity, low voltage | Cut-off, U | 0.05555555555555561 | kWh | — |
| Steam, in chemical industry {RoW}| market for steam, in chemical industry | Cut-off, U | 1.418181818 | kg | (3,4,5,5,5,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
Elementary flow inputs
| Flow | Sub-compartment | Amount | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water, cooling, unspecified natural origin, RoW | in water | 0.1311 | m3 | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Water, unspecified natural origin, RoW | in ground | 0.00023 | m3 | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
Elementary flow outputs
| Flow | Compartment | Sub-compartment | Amount | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Emission to air | high population density | 0.00052 | kg | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Ammonium | Emission to water | surface water | 0.00016744 | kg | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Carbon dioxide, fossil | Emission to air | high population density | -0.73312 | kg | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Nitrogen, atmospheric | Emissions to water | river | 0.00043 | kg | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Particulate Matter, > 2.5 um and < 10um | Emission to air | high population density | 0.00031 | kg | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Water/m3 | Emission to water | unspecified | 0.0804816 | m3 | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |
| Water/m3, RoW | Emissions to air | — | 0.0524084 | m3 | (3,4,5,5,1,na) This flow is weighted averages using the exchanges in the corresponding regional data. |