In situ electrochemical production of solid peroxide from urine

XJ Shi and Y Jiang and BL Zeng and ZY Sun and MJ Yun and P Lv and Y Jia and XL Zheng, NATURE CATALYSIS, 8 (2025).

DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01277-3

The selective extraction of urea from urine under mild conditions is essential for urban wastewater treatment. Here we devise an in situ electrochemical technique that converts urea, a nitrogen-rich waste, into percarbamide, a crystalline peroxide derivative of urea. This process simultaneously facilitates urine treatment and transforms waste into a valuable product. Using modified graphitic carbon-based catalysts, which are engineered with optimized active sites and structures, the system solidifies hydrogen peroxide and accelerates urea conversion. Precise control of temperature and urea concentration further enhances catalytic performance. The optimized process achieves near 100% purity in percarbamide precipitation from both human and mammalian urine. The collected percarbamide demonstrates remarkable potential for applications in various domains. This approach establishes a closed-loop system for production, utilization and recovery, offering a scalable solution for large-scale urine treatment with important economic and environmental value.

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