Monoethanolamine (MEA) belongs to the group of ethanolamines and is used in the production of detergents and cleaning agents, amongst others.
Monoethanolamine is obtained from the reaction of Ethylene Oxide and Ammonia. This reaction also produces Diethanolamine and Triethanolamine, which are also products sold by Saiper.
Ethanolamines are chemical compounds belonging to the group of amines and alcohols. This results in their unique property of being able to react with both groups: in the form of alcohol, ethanolamines are hygroscopic and can react to form esters, whereas in the form of amines, they are slightly alkaline and react with acids to form salts and soaps. These properties form the basis for most applications of Monoethanolamine. For industrial applications, MEA is used either in pure form (concentration >99%) or as an aqueous solution of varying concentrations.
Saiper only markets the pure product of >99% purity.
| Chemical Name: | Monoethanolamine |
| Chemical Family: | Ethanolamine |
|
Other Names: |
• 2-aminoethanol; • MEA; • MEoA |
|
CAS No: |
141-43-5 |
| Chemical Formula: | C2H7NO |
Benefits and Applications
Detergents:
• MEA imparts a reserve alkalinity to the laundry bath, which is essential to efficient cleaning.
• MEA is an effective oil and anti-redeposition agent.
Personal Care:
• Fatty acids neutralized with MEA are used as emulsifiers for oil-in water emulsions such as gel-type industrial hand cleaners, aerosol shave creams, and hand and body lotions.
Textile Finishing:
• MEA is used as reaction intermediates for the preparation of durable press fabric finishes and softeners.
• When reacted to form amine soaps, useful as scouring agents for wool and silk because of its low alkalinity.
• Because it is hygroscopic, MEA is used in the preparation of vat printing pastes.
Wood Treating:
• MEA is used in both alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) and copper azole formulations for treating wood to improve its resistance to pests and decay. Both are arsenic-free alternatives to the phased-out CCA formulations.
