Monoethanolamine (MEA)

MEA (Monoethanolamine) is mainly used in processing natural gas (H2S, CO2), producing detergents, surfactants, soaps, corrosion inhibitors, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, wood chemicals and agrochemicals, and personal care products. One of by-products of MEA is Triazine which is used to remove H₂S gas in drilling operation. in .MEA is also used in the production of Ethylene Amines. MEA is also used as a raw material for metal cleaning agents and corrosion inhibitors.

MEA is widely used in various industries for different applications due to its specific properties. A brief of its applications is provided for a glance:

• Scrubbing acidic gases (H2S, CO2)

MEA is a perfect gas scrubber much is used widely in coal, oil and natural gas industries in order to emit carbon dioxide (CO₂). To be more specific, the mechanism of emitting carbon dioxide with MEA, is washing the chemical with amine compounds, and MEA is an excellent aqueous medium to be used as the mentioned amine. The byproduct of reactions between MEA and CO₂ and H₂S gasses are minor salts.

• Pharmaceuticals

MEA is widely used in pharmaceutical products in order to create a buffer medium. A buffer medium is a media which is highly resistant to pH-changes. Another usage of MEA in pharmaceutical industry is for the preparation of emulsions. In addition, MEA is a raw material in symptomatic hemorrhoids drugs.

• Textile auxiliaries

MEA is are widely utilized in the textile industry. Having one primary amine and one alcohol group, MEA can be used as an intermediate material in the preparation processes of fibers and softeners. Most Textile lubricants are including ethanolamine salts as a main material. MEA has a higher water absorption that makes it ideal for the production of printing pastes.

• Cosmetics

The medicinal grade of MEA is used to adjust the pH ranges in cosmetic products. The usage of MEA as an emulsifier is reducing the surface tension between water-soluble molecules and oil-soluble molecules. The alkaline properties of MEA, have made it used to control pH properties and preserve some active agents in the products. Fortunately, the usage of MEA in cosmetic products are legal, and its usage for sun protection products are legal. Nowadays, many products such as shampoos, hair conditioners and bath bubbles have MEA in their formulations.

• Power plants

Monoethanolamine is utilized to alkalinize water within the steam cycle of control plants such as nuclear control plants with pressurized water reactor.

• Production of detergents and soaps (as surfactant)

Having one primary amine and one alcohol group, MEA is able to react with its both functional groups. consequently, MEA is an excellent intermediary alkyl amines for reacting with acids in order to produce salts, detergents and soaps with great cleaning power. Moreover, the alkaline properties of MEA, have made it used to neutralize fatty acids and control pH properties.

• Carbon capture and storage

MEA is also used for post-combustion carbon capture by chemical absorption mechanism in order to improve process performance. This application is estimated to be increase drastically worldwide.

Production Method

MEA is produced by the reactions between ethylene oxide (EO) and ammonia in aqueous solution in a high temperature condition. DEA and TEA are other products of the mentioned reaction. Based on reports, this method for producing ethanolamines were firstly done in 1897 by a famous chemist named Ludwig Knorr.