MEA/ MONOETHANOLAMINE

•CAS No. 141-43-5

Monoethanolamine ( MEA )  is a clear, colorless, viscous liquid. with an ammonia-like smell. It is completely soluble in water. It is one of a class of organic compounds called ethanolamines. Ethanolamines combine the properties of amines and alcohols.  Monoethanolamine is available in a variety of grades, including low freeze grade (LF, 85%) and iron and chloride free (ICF, 100%), as well as Gas Treating (GT) grades.

Monoethanolamine (MEA) is primarily used in detergents, personal-care products, textile finishing, and wood treating. Other applications include use as oil-field chemicals, metal-working fluids, and catalysts that promote stability during the manufacture of flexible and rigid urethane foams.

Monoethanolamine can cause burns to the eyes and skin. It is harmful and corrosive if swallowed. It is also harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. It can cause lung damage if aspirated, and repeated exposure may cause liver and kidney damage.

Monoethanolamine is water soluble and biodegrades rapidly. It should not bioaccumulate or persist in the environment. However, large releases to wastewater-treatment facilities can result in poor treatment and toxic shock to biologically active species.

Monoethanolamine exhibits good temperature stability, but can react exothermically (producing heat) with many other materials, including strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, strong bases, aluminum, aldehydes, ketones, acrylates, organic anhydrides, organic halides, formates, lactones, oxalates, and copper and zinc metals and alloys. It can also form an unstable crystalline complex called tris(ethanolamino)-iron when in contact with iron or steel, which can ignite when heated to 54–71°C (130–160°F) in the presence of air.


APPLICATIONS :
Monoethanolamine is used in the following applications:
• Cement – to enhance strength, reduce drying time and protect against the affects of freezing and thawing
• Gas treating – for a variety of natural gas, petrochemical, and oil treatments
• Metalworking fluids – to neutralize acid components in lubricants, prevent corrosion and rusting, and for proprietary corrosion inhibitors and biocides
• Personal-care products – to make ethanolamine-based soaps for use in hand lotions, cosmetic creams, cleansing creams, shaving creams, and shampoos; also for dry-cleaning solvents and heavy-duty liquid laundry detergents
• Pharmaceuticals – as raw materials in the production of certain pharmaceuticals
• Printing inks – to control pH in the formulation of packaging and printing inks
• Textiles and textile additives – as aids to clean and scour textiles, facilitate wetting, and improve lather and ease of soap removal
• Wood treating – for wood-preservative alternatives

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