Is Urea natural?

Dominant feedstock is natural gas, steam-reformed and combined with nitrogen (Haber-Bosch) to give ammonia, which reacts with CO2 (Bosch-Meiser process) to form urea. No natural-origin route is used commercially.

The industrial synthesis of urea is a well-established process, primarily carried out in two main steps: the synthesis of ammonium carbamate and its subsequent dehydration to urea.

First, liquid ammonia and gaseous carbon dioxide are reacted under high pressure (typically 140-250 bar) and elevated temperature (around 180-200 °C) to form ammonium carbamate. This reaction is exothermic and is represented by the equation: 2 NH3 (l) + CO2 (g) <=> NH2COONH4 (l).

Next, the ammonium carbamate is dehydrated to form urea and water. This step requires higher temperatures (around 190-210 °C) and is carried out at slightly lower pressures (around 150-250 bar) in a reactor. The reaction is endothermic and is represented by the equation: NH2COONH4 (l) <=> CO(NH2)2 (l) + H2O (l).

The crude urea solution is then subjected to a series of purification steps. This typically involves stripping unreacted ammonia and carbon dioxide, followed by evaporation to concentrate the urea solution. Further purification may include crystallization, filtration, and drying to obtain solid urea, often in prill or granular form, meeting specific purity standards for cosmetic and agricultural applications.

Urea is a common ingredient found in many skincare products, especially those designed for dry or rough skin. It's a naturally occurring compound in the human body, playing a vital role in skin's hydration and its natural moisturizing factor (NMF). When used in cosmetics, it acts as a powerful humectant, meaning it attracts and holds water, helping to keep the skin hydrated and soft.

Industrially, urea is synthesized through a chemical process that combines ammonia and carbon dioxide. While urea itself is a natural component of our bodies, the urea used in cosmetics is typically produced in large chemical plants. The raw materials for this synthesis, ammonia and carbon dioxide, are primarily derived from fossil fuels like natural gas. Therefore, from a sourcing perspective according to ISO 16128, it is considered a petroleum-derived ingredient.