Analysis of the potential of livestock excreta for urea production through anaerobic digestion: challenges and opportunities in Latin America

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dc.contributor.affiliationVillegas S., University of Medellín, Faculty of engineering, Carrera 87 #30-65, Medellín, 050026, Colombia
dc.contributor.affiliationRocha-Meneses L., Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Forestry and Engineering, 56 Fr.R. Kreutzwald Str, Tartu, EE 51006, Estonia
dc.contributor.affiliationLuna-Delrisco M., University of Medellín, Faculty of engineering, Carrera 87 #30-65, Medellín, 050026, Colombia
dc.contributor.affiliationArrieta-González C., University of Medellín, Faculty of engineering, Carrera 87 #30-65, Medellín, 050026, Colombia
dc.contributor.affiliationGonzález-Palacio M., University of Medellín, Faculty of engineering, Carrera 87 #30-65, Medellín, 050026, Colombia
dc.contributor.authorVillegas S.
dc.contributor.authorRocha-Meneses L.
dc.contributor.authorLuna-Delrisco M.
dc.contributor.authorArrieta-González C.
dc.contributor.authorGonzález-Palacio M.
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-08T14:23:47Z
dc.date.available2025-09-08T14:23:47Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.descriptionUrea is one of the most demanded fertilizers worldwide and in Latin America. The high dependence on international markets to meet the region’s urea demand, the high consumption of fossil energy for its production, and greenhouse gas emissions increase agricultural production costs and create the need to seek alternative processes for urea production to reduce these adverse effects. In this sense, this work explores the possibility of producing urea in Latin America from the ammonia and CO₂ generated in the anaerobic digestion process of livestock excreta under conditions that favor the production of both gases. The results indicate that it is possible to meet the demand for urea for agricultural use by utilizing 15% of its theoretical potential obtained from livestock excreta. This new alternative for obtaining urea brings economic benefits, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and fosters social development. However, it faces legal, infrastructure, and technological barriers that may hinder the adoption of this technology in rural areas of Latin America. © 2025, Eesti Pollumajandusulikool. All rights reserved.
dc.identifier.doi10.15159/AR.25.029
dc.identifier.instnameinstname:Universidad de Medellínspa
dc.identifier.issn1406894X
dc.identifier.reponamereponame:Repositorio Institucional Universidad de Medellínspa
dc.identifier.repourlrepourl:https://repository.udem.edu.co/
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11407/9104
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyFacultad de Ingenieríasspa
dc.publisher.programIngeniería en Energíaspa
dc.publisher.programIngeniería de Telecomunicacionesspa
dc.relation.citationendpage219
dc.relation.citationissueSpecial Issue I
dc.relation.citationstartpage208
dc.relation.citationvolume23
dc.relation.isversionofhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105005728169&doi=10.15159%2fAR.25.029&partnerID=40&md5=4db2fede0eff2cf67d05e91538fa557b
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dc.rights.accesoRestricted access
dc.rights.accessrightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.sourceAgronomy Research
dc.sourceAgron. Res.
dc.sourceScopus
dc.subjectAnaerobic digestion
dc.subjectFertilizer
dc.subjectLatin America
dc.subjectLivestock excreta
dc.subjectUrea
dc.titleAnalysis of the potential of livestock excreta for urea production through anaerobic digestion: challenges and opportunities in Latin America
dc.typeArticle
dc.type.localArtículospa
dc.type.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

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