Premium
Development of urea‐formaldehyde compounds as nitrogenous fertilizers
Author(s) -
Winsor G. W.,
Long M. I. E.
Publication year - 1958
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740090401
Subject(s) - formaldehyde , urea , urea formaldehyde , chemistry , mineralization (soil science) , nitrogen , decomposition , organic chemistry , environmental chemistry , adhesive , layer (electronics)
Published work on the preparation and testing of urea‐formaldehyde compounds as nitrogenous fertilizers is reviewed, and additional information presented on the effects of pH and urea/formaldehyde ratio upon the properties of the products. Some increase in the proportion of slowly available nitrogen was obtained by preliminary reaction under alkaline conditions followed by a brief acid treatment, as compared with preparation under entirely acid conditions. The effect of soil pH upon the decomposition of urea‐formaldehyde compounds, including plastics waste products, is discussed. Recent work on the reaction between urea and formaldehyde, and on the composition of the products, is outlined. Isolation of some of the lower members of the methyleneurea series is discussed, and preliminary data presented for mineralization of the nitrogen of three such compounds in soil, the rates of decomposition decreasing with increased chain‐length. In conclusion, references are given to some practical trials with urea‐formaldehyde compounds as slow‐acting fertilizers, and to patents for the production of these materials.