Monoethanolamine (MEA)

Monoethanolamine (abbreviated as MEA, CAS No.: 141-43-5) is produced by substituting one hydrogen atom in ammonia with a hydroxyethyl group, making it a primary amine. Its molecule contains both a basic amino group and a hydrophilic hydroxyl group, enabling it to react with acids to form salts and conferring good water solubility and hygroscopicity. In gas purification, its aqueous solutions are widely used in petroleum refining, natural gas processing, and synthetic ammonia industries to remove acidic gases (e.g., CO₂, H₂S) from process gases, favored for their strong absorption capacity and ability to be regenerated by heating for cyclic use. As a chemical intermediate, it is a key raw material for synthesizing nonionic surfactants (e.g., alkanolamides), emulsifiers, and corrosion inhibitors. In personal care and pharmaceuticals, it is used to prepare conditioning agents in cosmetics and shampoos, and to synthesize certain drugs (e.g., ethambutol for tuberculosis treatment). As an industrial additive, it serves as a softening agent for textiles and as a pH regulator and anti-rust additive in metalworking fluids. Our product, manufactured in Shandong, China, is produced via the mature process of reacting ethylene oxide with ammonia followed by distillation, achieving a purity of ≥99.0% with low levels of other ethanolamine impurities (diethanolamine, triethanolamine) and stable quality. This product is corrosive and hygroscopic, and causes irritation to eyes, skin, and the respiratory tract. Protective equipment must be worn and forced draft ventilation ensured during handling.