Urea Types: Prilled and Granular

Two types of urea include prilled and granules are widely used as fertilizers. They are produced from the reaction between ammonia and carbon dioxide.

These types of urea differ in two cases:

• Physical properties

• Applications 

This article will help you select the right urea types by understanding the differences between prilled and granular urea.

Prilled Urea

Prilled urea is a form of nitrogen-rich solid fertilizer that has the ability to dissolve quickly in water.

Prilled urea is more commonly used today to resist breaking down when mixing with other fertilizer components like Potassium chloride.

It is also known as ice melting or deicing urea since it can reduce ice efficiently, even at very low temperatures ( -6 ^◦C) .

Physical Properties

Small particles of prilled urea are in spherical shape. They have a larger surface area compared to granular urea which causes water to interact with it better and leading to faster dissolution.

One of the challenges with fertilizer is that it breaks down or evaporates when it rains. 

The urea prill has a high resistance. This makes urea fertilizer remain longer and we don’t need to use fertilizer in short periods of time.

 Prilled Urea Applications

• Direct application to soil or through irrigation systems as a nitrogen fertilizer
• Utilization in NOx control systems for nitrogen oxide control in diesel engines 
• Use as a nitrogen component in the production of liquid or suspension fertilizers solutions 
• Snow melting on runways
• Use in cattle feed
• Use in pharmacology

Granular Urea

Granular urea is the same as prilled urea that has the highest nitrogen (46% content) among solid fertilizers. 

It can be applied directly to the soil or mixed with other fertilizers like phosphate and potash to create a complete food mix for plants. 

This type of urea can be easily applied using conventional spreading equipment. 

Physical Properties

Granular urea has bigger particles and an uneven shape. It is stronger than prilled urea and less likely to break.

It releases nitrogen slowly. It can be a rich source of nutrients for plants. You can check the Urea page, to read the granular urea specifications.

Granular Urea Application

• Raw material for other fertilizers production
• Manufacturing of melamine used in melamine-methanal resins (used for the synthesis of melamine through a chemical reaction involving urea and formaldehyde.)

• Formation of important resins (urea-formaldehyde resin)
• Use in reducing air pollution from diesel engines in cars, buses, and lorries

In this article, we explained different types of urea. If you have any questions about other differences that we did not cover, please leave a comment.