Synthesis and Characterization Copolymers From Succinic Acid and Urea

The use of nitrogen has increased in recent years mainly due to the fact that nitrogen (N) is an essential element for growth and development of plants. However, much of this nutrient is lost through volatilization and leaching. In order to minimize these losses, a new polymer material was produced by  polymerization of urea and succinic acid, that may be used for coating fertilizer granules.The product was charactherized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectroscopy (IR),  elementar analyse (EA), Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and(Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR).  The results indicate the formation of copolymers of urea and succinic acid, but not necessarily through the amidation reaction, by reaction of the amino groups of urea with the carboxylic groups of the succinic acid.