What is AdBlue and what does it do?
AdBlue is an extremely pure, colorless liquid. This contains demineralized water and urea (32.5%). AdBlue is used in diesel engines and is also known outside Europe under the names DEF, ARLA 32 or AUS 32.
The main active component of AdBlue is ammonia. This is chemically formed by hydrolysis of automotive urea, which is the main raw material for AdBlue. Different types of urea are used for the production of fertilizers and many other applications.
AdBlue is used in diesel engines equipped with SCR technology. This technology (Selective Catalytic Reduction) reduces harmful emissions (NOx).
AdBlue is injected into the catalytic converter of the SCR system, where it initiates a chemical reaction with the ammonia. As a result of this chemical reaction, the toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) are converted into nitrogen (N2) and water vapor (H2O).
Water vapor and nitrogen are naturally occurring gases that are harmless to the environment