Amazing Facts - Advanced Technology
By Rose Lane
Urea is a common organic chemical compound that is typically used for agriculture fertilisers, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), and in various industrial applications. Following China’s export ban in 2021, there has been a worldwide shortage of urea – and as Australia imports around 80% of the urea we use from China, our nation has been hit particularly hard. The good news? Australia has plans to increase local manufacturing of urea, including a colossal $6 billion domestic project that will assert our position in a competitive global market.
Eureka Urea! The ultimate crop find for farmers
Urea is a key ingredient in crop fertilisers, and most of the urea used for this purpose is factory-made, allowing for large-scale production and precise quality control. But out of the estimated two million tonnes of urea Australia uses each year, only a quarter is manufactured locally, with the rest imported from China, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. However, there are plans to change this. With a budget of $6 billion, industrial chemical producer Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers are in the midst of building what will be Australia’s largest urea plant in Western Australia. Aiming to produce 2.3 million tonnes of urea each year, the facility will be a secure, high quality source for Australian farmers.
The truth about AdBlue
Contrary to popular belief, diesel exhaust fluid AdBlue is not made from urine. Rather, it is made from a combination of urea and deionised water. AdBlue is added to diesel engines to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) which in turn, helps meet environmental regulations for cleaner air. Injecting the fluid into the exhaust system creates a chemical reaction which reduces production of NOx. This is hugely beneficial for the environment – so much so that it is illegal to run large diesel vehicles without AdBlue – and also for the vehicles themselves, preventing potentially severe damage to the exhaust system.
Since China – the world’s largest producer of urea – decided to slow down exports, Australia’s biggest producer of urea, Incitec Pivot, has had urea production on overdrive, running 24 hours seven days a week to meet Australia’s needs. In early 2022, the company set a weekly distribution record of just over 3 million litres across Australia.
