Mechanosynthesis of Magnesium and Calcium Salt–Urea Ionic Cocrystal Fertilizer Materials for Improved Nitrogen Management

Only 47% of the total fertilizer nitrogen applied to the environment is taken up by the plants whereas approximately 40% of the total fertilizer nitrogen lost to the environment reverts back into unreactive atmospheric dinitrogen that greatly affects the global nitrogen cycle including increased energy consumption for NH₃ synthesis, as well as accumulation of nitrates in drinking water. In this letter, we provide a mechanochemical method of inorganic magnesium and calcium salt–urea ionic cocrystal synthesis to obtain enhanced stability nitrogen fertilizers. The solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis presented can result in a greater manufacturing process sustainability by reducing or eliminating the need for solution handling and evaporation. NH₃ emission testing suggests that urea ionic cocrystals are capable of decreasing NH₃ emissions to the environment when compared to pure urea, thus providing implications for a sustainable global solution to the management of the nitrogen cycle