Organic bases catalyze the synthesis of urea from ammonium salts derived from recovered environmental ammonia.

ABSTRACT: Ammonia from sewage and livestock manure is a major environmental pollutant. To consume environmental ammonia, we investigated the organic base-catalyzed synthesis of urea. 1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) catalyzes the conversion of ammonium carbamate to urea in 35% yield at 100 °C. Moreover, DBU also converts other ammonium salts into urea. A mechanism that involves nucleophilic attack of ammonia following ion exchange is proposed.

SUBMITTER: Manaka Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7028734 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature