What component in urine can attract moisture to the contaminated area?

The component in urine that attracts moisture to the contaminated area is urea. Urea is a compound that is highly soluble and hygroscopic, meaning it has the ability to draw in and hold moisture from the surrounding environment. This property of urea is significant in the context of odor control, as the presence of additional moisture can lead to the persistence of odors and complicate the remediation process.

In contrast, while alkaline salts are present in urine, their primary role is not related to moisture attraction. Proteins, although they have various biological functions, do not have the same hygroscopic qualities as urea. Lastly, fatty acids are not predominant components of urine, and even if they do have some moisture-influencing properties, they are not significant when compared to urea's potency in attracting and holding moisture. Understanding urea's role is essential in effectively managing and eliminating odors associated with urine contamination.