Is NBPT the same as Agrotain's active ingredient?

Yes — NBPT (CAS 94317-64-3) is the active in Agrotain, and in related products such as Anvol and Limus (alongside other actives).

What dose is used on urea?

Typically about 0.05–0.1% w/w active (~500–1000 ppm); EU references cite roughly 0.04–0.10%.

Should I buy solid or liquid NBPT?

Solid technical NBPT suits melt-coating; solvent formulations suit spray-coating or UAN blending.

NBPT is hydrolytically sensitive — keep cool, dry and sealed. The solid is more stable than dilute solutions.

Is it approved for use?

It is an EU-approved urease inhibitor under the Fertilising Products Regulation (2019/1009), REACH-registered, and marketed in the US as a nitrogen stabiliser.

What is the difference between NBPT and DCD?

They act at different steps. NBPT is a urease inhibitor: it slows urea hydrolysis and cuts ammonia loss at the surface. DCD is a nitrification inhibitor: it works later, slowing the conversion of ammonium to nitrate and reducing leaching and nitrous-oxide emissions. Some enhanced-efficiency fertilisers use both.

Why is NBPT usually supplied as a liquid?

Pure NBPT melts at roughly 54–60 °C, which makes the solid awkward to meter onto granules at scale. Dissolving it in NMP or a glycol gives a sprayable liquid that coats urea evenly and blends into UAN solutions. Solid grades are still used for melt-coating.

NBPT

CAS 94317-64-3 C₄H₁₄N₃PS

CAS number: 94317-64-3
EC number: 435-740-7
Formula: C₄H₁₄N₃PS
Molar mass: 167.21 g/mol
Appearance: Pure NBPT is a white to off-white crystalline/waxy solid (mp ~54–60 °C), but it is commonly supplied as an amber/pale-yellow liquid formulation (~20–80% NBPT in NMP or glycols) for urea coating.
HS code: ~2929.90 (indicative)

NBPT is the leading urease inhibitor for urea fertiliser. It temporarily blocks the urease enzyme in soil and crop residue, slowing the hydrolysis of urea to ammonium carbonate so that less nitrogen escapes as ammonia gas before rain or irrigation carries it into the soil. It is the active behind Agrotain-type nitrogen stabilisers. Pure NBPT is a waxy solid, but most of the tonnage moves as an amber liquid formulation in NMP or glycols, which coats granules evenly and blends into UAN. Ehlinar supplies technical solid and liquid nitrogen-stabiliser formulations matched to your coating process.

Applications

FertilizerUrease inhibitor coated on granular/prilled urea and UAN to cut ammonia loss

Enhanced-efficiency fertilizerBlends (often with DCD or DMPP) that raise nitrogen-use efficiency

Liquid N-stabilisersSolvent formulations for spray-coating urea or UAN blending

Fertilizer handlingUrea anti-caking co-formulation

ResearchUrease-inhibition reference standard

Grades & packaging

Supplied as a technical solid (≥97–99%), an analytical standard, or liquid nitrogen-stabiliser formulations (around 25% active); the solid suits melt-coating and the liquids suit spray-coating or UAN blending.

Solid: 25 kg fiber drums/bags, supersacks
Liquid: 200–250 L drums, 1000 L IBC, ISO tank

How we supply

Supplier documentation on request

Certificate of Analysis (CoA), lot-specific where available
Safety Data Sheet (SDS / MSDS)
Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
Certificate of Origin / Certificate of Conformity

Quality assurance

Independent third-party inspection can be arranged on request, with the agency and scope agreed per trade. Representative samples can be requested for qualification, subject to supplier availability. We recommend incoming quality control against the agreed CoA.

Delivery & terms

Quoted on standard Incoterms (e.g. EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP) as agreed per trade. Delivery region, packaging and grade are confirmed per quote.

Documents and services above are subject to supplier availability and confirmed per quote; nothing here is an offer.

Typical / indicative values — not a binding specification

Property	Typical
Assay (technical solid)	≥97–99%
Active content (liquid formulation)	~20–80% NBPT in NMP or glycols (commonly ~25%)
Melting point (pure solid)	~54–60 °C
Typical dose on urea	~0.05–0.1% w/w active (≈500–1000 ppm)

Also known as

N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide · nBTPT · BTPT · N-butylphosphorothioic triamide · active in Agrotain / Anvol / Limus

Frequently asked questions

Is NBPT the same as Agrotain's active ingredient?: Yes — NBPT (CAS 94317-64-3) is the active in Agrotain, and in related products such as Anvol and Limus (alongside other actives).
What dose is used on urea?: Typically about 0.05–0.1% w/w active (~500–1000 ppm); EU references cite roughly 0.04–0.10%.
Should I buy solid or liquid NBPT?: Solid technical NBPT suits melt-coating; solvent formulations suit spray-coating or UAN blending.
How stable is it?: NBPT is hydrolytically sensitive — keep cool, dry and sealed. The solid is more stable than dilute solutions.
Is it approved for use?: It is an EU-approved urease inhibitor under the Fertilising Products Regulation (2019/1009), REACH-registered, and marketed in the US as a nitrogen stabiliser.
What is the difference between NBPT and DCD?: They act at different steps. NBPT is a urease inhibitor: it slows urea hydrolysis and cuts ammonia loss at the surface. DCD is a nitrification inhibitor: it works later, slowing the conversion of ammonium to nitrate and reducing leaching and nitrous-oxide emissions. Some enhanced-efficiency fertilisers use both.
Why is NBPT usually supplied as a liquid?: Pure NBPT melts at roughly 54–60 °C, which makes the solid awkward to meter onto granules at scale. Dissolving it in NMP or a glycol gives a sprayable liquid that coats urea evenly and blends into UAN solutions. Solid grades are still used for melt-coating.

Enquire about NBPT

Related products

Figures and identifiers here are compiled from public references and provided for general information; they are indicative, not a specification. See all products.