Ethanolamines are basic raw materials and are used in finished products in many sectors of the economy: from oil and gas processing, cement and metallurgy, to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
Ethanolamines are effective solvents in removing sulfur contaminants from refinery off-gas.When differentiating ethanolamine from di-ethanolamine and tri-ethanolamine, we use the word mono-ethanolamine. Mono-ethanolamine is made from the chemical reaction between ethylene oxide and ammonia. As the reaction progresses, di-ethanolamine and tri-ethanolamine is created.
All 3 liquids are toxic, flammable, corrosive and has some ammonia odor. When absorbed with water it becomes a tenacious liquid. It has the qualities of both amines and alcohols.
Mono-ethanolamine are used in absorbents that absorb carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen dioxide. It is also a solvent for abstracting phenol and the base ingredient for neutral soap, emulsifiers, and surface activating agents.
Di-ethanolamine and tri-ethanolamine are used in the making of detergents, gas absorbents, metal corrosion inhibitors, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.