The first additive for formaldehyde-free urea

For years, the industry has been searching for a safe alternative to formaldehyde. Classified as a category B1 carcinogen, formaldehyde poses serious health risks. Yet a ban has never been enforced, simply because no viable alternative existed. Until now.

Instral BV has spent more than 12 years developing an additive to produce formaldehyde-free urea and is the first company to introduce a proven, market-ready solution: C-Force® additive. It delivers the same effectiveness without harmful side effects and is FDA-approved, making it even suitable for use in animal feed. It also meets ISO 22241 standards, allowing safe use in DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid). With this breakthrough, the limitations of formaldehyde are eliminated, opening new opportunities across applications from technical and fertiliser grade to animal feed and DEF/AdBlue®.

Why switch to C-Force® additive for formaldehyde-free urea?

C-Force® provides the same or better granulation performance without formaldehyde, cutting VOC emissions and meeting health & regulatory demands while unlocking higher value markets like automotive grade urea.
- Jacco Korver, MSc

C-Force® additive is bio-based, non-toxic, suitable for both the granulation and prilling of urea and combines high performance with safety. It enables access to markets where the use of formaldehyde is restricted or even banned. Applications include NOx reduction in power stations, where it removes nitrogen oxides from flue gases, as well as use in diesel fuel to lower emissions.

Key benefits of C-Force® additive:

  • Formaldehyde-free urea. No health risks for humans or animals.
  • Environmentally friendly. Lowers emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  • Market-ready. FDA-approved for animal feed, ISO 22241-compliant for DEF/AdBlue®, and suitable for fertiliser use.
  • High quality. Fully compliant with technical and fertiliser grade standards, including caking tendency, breaking strength, moisture content, particle size distribution and dust levels.

In summary: C-Force® additive makes your processes safer, more sustainable and ready for the future - without adding extra costs.

Discover the benefits for your sector

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Fertiliser grade – sustainable growth without formaldehyde

Our bio-based alternative to formaldehyde helps urea producers maintain product quality while achieving a more sustainable and safer production process. C-Force® additive is ready for stricter environmental regulations and ensures that emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are reduced during your process. Furthermore, urea produced with C-Force® additive will have a higher nitrogen content than urea produced with formaldehyde. 

AdBlue® / DEF - cleaner air and emission reduction

The transport and energy sectors face growing pressure to reduce emissions. Our additive for formaldehyde-free urea meets the requirements for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF-approved) and is fully compatible with AdBlue® systems. It converts harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) into harmless nitrogen and water during combustion, directly supporting emission reduction and cleaner air.

Animal feed grade – safe and reliable animal nutrition

Since June 2023, formaldehyde has been banned in raw materials such as soy and rapeseed for rumen stability, due to the health risks for livestock. For years, no safe alternative was available. Until now: our bio-based additive is FDA-approved, safe for animal consumption and compliant with tightening regulations, ensuring long-term security for your feed production.

Technical grade - production without harmful substances

Manufacturers using urea in technical applications rely on consistent quality. C-Force® additive ensures compliance with all key specifications while fully replacing formaldehyde, creating a safer working environment for employees and a solution ready to meet future regulatory standards.

Frequently asked questions

  • What does ‘formaldehyde-free’ mean?

    It means no formaldehyde, reaction products of formaldehyde (UF), analogues of formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing compounds (HMTA) is used or added during the granulation or pelletisation of urea. Formaldehyde is toxic and classified as a category B1 carcinogen. Because of its health and environmental risks, its use is increasingly restricted or banned across industries. C-Force® additive eliminates these risks, offering a safe, non-toxic alternative.

  • Why choose our additive to produce formaldehyde-free urea?

    There are several reasons to choose our additive for formaldehyde-free urea. The main reasons are:

    • Formaldehyde-free urea. No health risks for humans or animals.
    • Environmentally friendly. Lowers emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
    • Market-ready. FDA-approved for animal feed, ISO 22241-compliant for DEF/AdBlue®, and suitable for fertiliser use.
    • High quality. Fully compliant with technical and fertiliser grade standards, including caking tendency, breaking strength, moisture content, particle size distribution and dust levels.
  • Are there any disadvantages or limitations compared to traditional formaldehyde urea additives?

    No. On the contrary: C-Force® additive is non-toxic, suitable for both the granulation and prilling of urea, delivers equal or better performance, and allows use in markets where formaldehyde is no longer permitted.

  • Does the additive reduce my environmental footprint?

    Yes. It reduces VOC emissions and can be applied in NOx reduction at power plants as well as in diesel fuel to reduce harmful exhaust gases.

  • Will I receive guidance during implementation and testing?

    Yes. We offer full guidance throughout the implementation and commissioning of the C-Force® additive.

  • Does the additive comply with the relevant European and international regulations?

    Yes. The urea products comply with the technical urea standards and the DEF standards ISO 22241/AUS32.

  • How easy is it to integrate this additive into my current production process?

    The integration is straightforward. In collaboration with a renowned equipment manufacturer, we developed a system that incorporates the powder into the liquid system under pressure.

    Although this is a technically complex challenge, our solution is both well-designed and user-friendly. Our dosing system allows for extremely precise operation. Since the required dosage is low, precision is essential, and we have ensured this.

  • Is the additive stable under different conditions?

    Yes. The additive remains highly stable when stored in its original, sealed packaging. The additive also helps the urea granule remain stable, even under varying conditions such as changes in temperature and pressure.

    The additive is delivered in sealed bags, making it resistant to external influences. However, if the packaging is left open, the additive may lose stability over time.

    In summary: both the additive and the urea granule to which it is applied remain stable, as long as they are stored correctly.

  • Why is formaldehyde-free urea important?

    There are multiple reasons why formaldehyde-free urea is important:

    • Environmental & Health Concerns. Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC) and a known carcinogen, leading to its restriction in many regions, especially in Europe. 
    • Regulatory Compliance. The use of formaldehyde-free urea helps companies comply with strict health, safety, and environmental regulations, particularly in the production of products like AdBlue®.
    • Product Quality & Performance. In some applications, such as AdBlue®, formaldehyde-free urea ensures the purity and functionality of the product, preventing damage to catalytic systems and meeting ISO 22241 standards. 
  • What are the applications of formaldehyde-free urea?

    There are different applications for formaldehyde-free urea:

    • AdBlue® & Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). It is the essential, high-purity ingredient for producing AdBlue, which is injected into diesel engines to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. 
    • Formaldehyde-Free Resins. In the wood-based panel industry, researchers are developing and using formaldehyde-free resins to replace traditional urea-formaldehyde resins, addressing concerns about formaldehyde emissions from wood panels. 
    • Industrial and Environmental Uses. It serves as a high-purity nitrogen source for various industrial processes and environmental applications where formaldehyde is undesirable. 
  • How is formaldehyde-free urea produced?
    • Specialized Manufacturing. Instead of adding formaldehyde during granulation or prilling, Instral BV developed an alternative: C-Force® additive to achieve the desired product properties without formaldehyde.
What can we do for you

Interested in improving your process?

Instral BV specialises in tailor-made chemical and bio-based solutions across multiple sectors. We believe every challenge deserves a unique answer. Our experts are ready to advise you on how our bio-based additive for formaldehyde-free urea can be integrated into your processes.

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This innovation has been funded with support from the European Regional Development Fund of the European Commission.