What is Monoethanolamine (MEA) ?

What is MEA?

2-Aminoethanol；2-Aminoethyl alcoho 

CAS# 141-43-5

MDL：MFCD00008183

RTECS：KJ5775000

BRN：505944

PubChem：24865720

Monoethanolamine is an organic compound, molecular formula is c2h7no, colorless liquid. It is used to remove acid gas from natural gas and petroleum gas, and to make non-ionic detergent and emulsifier.

 

Properties

Colorless viscous liquid with ammonia smell at room temperature, soluble in water, strong alkaline solution, miscible with water, ethanol and acetone, slightly soluble in ether and carbon tetrachloride. At 25 ℃, the solubility in benzene is 1.4%, in ether is 2.1%, and in carbon tetrachloride is 0.2%. It can absorb carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, and release the absorbed gas after heating. It is combustible and may burn in case of open fire and high heat. Steam is poisonous. Some are hygroscopic. It has emulsifying and foaming effect. It can react with inorganic acid and organic acid to form salts and with anhydride to form esters. The hydrogen atom in its amino group can be replaced by acyl halides, haloalkanes, etc.

 

It is stable under normal temperature and pressure. At room temperature, it is colorless and transparent viscous liquid with hygroscopicity and ammonia odor. It is miscible with water, ethanol and acetone, slightly miscible with ether and carbon tetrachloride. It can react with inorganic acid and organic acid to form salt and with anhydride to form ester. It is hygroscopic and can absorb carbon dioxide in the air. It is combustible and may burn in case of open fire and high heat. Low toxicity. It is weakly alkaline.

 

Forbidden compounds: acids, anhydrides, acyl chlorides, aluminum and copper.

 

Chemical properties: alcohol and primary amine properties. It reacts with acid to form ammonium salt. Amides are formed by heating with fatty acids at high temperature (140 ~ 160 ℃) or reacting with esters. It is heated with sulfuric acid to form sulfate ester, and then heated with sodium hydroxide to form ethyleneamine. It reacts with formaldehyde to form hydroxymethyl derivatives. It reacts with aliphatic amines and aromatic aldehydes to form Schiff bases. Alkylation occurs on the nitrogen atom when reacting with haloalkanes. It reacts with ethylene oxide to form polyester and polyamide. It reacts with carbon disulfide to form dithiocarbamate. Piperidine was synthesized from 2-aminoethanol and ammonia by metal reduction catalyst. It forms complex salts with cobalt, copper and other metals.

 

The dilute solution of ethanolamine has very weak alkalinity and irritation. With the increase of its concentration, it has irritation to eyes, skin and mucous membrane.

 

APPLICATIONS

 

Gas purification

Absorb carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the gas.

 

Solvent

Gas chromatographic stationary solution (the highest temperature is 50 ℃, the solvent is ether) is used to separate low-carbon alcohols, pyridines and their derivatives.

 

Pharmacy

Synthetic bactericide and antidiarrheal.

 

Printing and dyeing

Synthesis of high-grade dyes (polycondensated turquoise blue 13g).

 

Spin

Used as fluorescent whitening agent, antistatic agent, moth proofing agent and detergent.

 

Rubber ink

Used as neutralizer, plasticizer, vulcanizer, accelerator and foaming agent.

Others

It can also be used as raw materials for surfactant, petroleum additive, preservative, ink manufacturing, organic synthesis, metal cleaning agent and antirust agent; Processing aids for food industry; It is used for manufacturing non-ionic detergent, emulsifier and automobile antifreeze; It is used as raw material for the production of ethylene amine series products.