Synthesis of 13C- and/or 15N-enriched urea

Author(s)

Carlos Roberto de Sant'Ana Filho

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/STB)
• Defense date: 2011-02-15

Examining board members

Jose Albertino Bendassolli; Carlos Ducatti; Eduardo Ferriolli; Marcos Yassuo Kamogawa; Fabio Rodrigo Piovezani Rocha

• Advisor: Jose Albertino Bendassolli

Abstract

In the present work 13CO(15NH2)2 was synthesized from 13CO, 15NH3, S and CH3OH reaction, at low pressure and temperature, with simultaneous H2S production. The reaction proceeded in a stainless steel reactor, internally lined with polytetrafluoroethylene. Initially, S was added to the reactor and, after its shutting, under reduced pressure (10-3 MPa) and 4 °C, CH3OH, H2S, 15NH3 and 13CO were shifted. The reactor was placed in a heating system (100 °C), under magnetic stirring. At the end of the reaction (150 minutes), the heating was turned off and the reactor was cooled (± 25 °C). The resulting synthesis gases, like 15NH3 and H2S, were recovered in H2SO4 and H2O2:NaOH solutions. The mixture (13CO(15NH2)2, CH3OH and S) was removed and subjected to processes for removal of impurities (vacuum filtration, chemical and physical purification (CH3COCH3 and cationic and anionic resins, respectively)). The 13CO(15NH2)2 was crystallized (50 °C) and physico-chemical (N content (%), melting point (°C), biuret content (%), multielemental analysis (mg kg-1)), microbiological (bacteria, fungi and yeasts) and isotopic (13C and/or 15N atoms %) analyses were carried out. The 13C and/or 15N analyses were performed using an ATLAS MAT-CH4 mass spectrometer (absolute determinations), with converted samples admission into gaseous form. Thus, 13CO2, and 15N2 was obtained through dry process, where 13CO(15NH2)2 sample was oxidized with CuO at 550 ºC in borosilicate glass tubes, under vacuum. The gases (15N2, 13CO2 and H2O) were led by a line under low pressure (10-3 MPa), on-line coupled with the intake system of the mass spectrometer. This procedure aimed to eliminate impurities (isobaric interferences) and H2O vapor, using cryogenics, admitting 13CO2 and 15N2 into the spectrometer for analysis. With the proposed system, involving the reaction among 15NH3, 13CO and S (6.13, 1.12 and 1.28 g, respectively), and further 40 mL of CH3OH and 40 mg of H2S was possible to obtain, on average, 1.96 g of 13CO(15NH2)2 (81.97 % of yield). The entire process, in batches, demands eight to twelve hours, depending on the isotopic source. The 13CO(15NH2)2 showed good physico-chemical (46,2 % of N, 132,5 ºC of melting point, 0,55 % of biuret and elements content (mg kg-1) lower than acceptable limits by legislation) and microbiological quality (< 10 CFU g-1 for bacteria, fungi and yeasts). The results of 15N and/or 13C isotopic determinations indicated the feasibility of the analytical method, with no isotopic level interference. The use of the on-line system coupled with mass spectrometry provided greater analytical speed and ease of sample preparation. The production costs of 13CO(15NH2)2 were competitive with FOB values in the international market (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/00291-4 - Synthesis of 13C- and/or 15N-enriched urea
• Grantee: Carlos Roberto de Sant Ana Filho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate