Diethanolamine

  • Dihydroxydiethylamin
  • 2,2 '- iminodiethanol
  • 2,2 '- iminobisethanol (IUPAC)
  • Aminodiethanol
  • Bishydroxyethylamine
  • DEA

Colorless, hygroscopic solid with ammoniacal odor

Fixed (also liquid because of the low melting point )

1.1 g · cm -3

28 ° C

269 ​​° C

<1 Pa ( 20 ° C)

  • Well in water (954 g · l-1 at 20 ° C)
  • Miscible with acetone and ethanol
  • Little in hydrocarbons and diethyl ether

Risk

1 mg · m-3

1000-3000 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Diethanolamine (DEA) is a colorless amino alcohol is used in solvents, emulsifiers and cleaning agents.

Production and representation

Diethanolamine is obtained by reacting ethylene oxide with ammonia under high pressure and separation ( distillation ) of the co- produced monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine.

In 1990, about 20,000 tons of diethanolamine were manufactured in Germany.

Properties

Diethanolamine is a colorless, hygroscopic solid with ammoniacal odor.

Chemical Properties

By dehydration ( dehydration ) of diethanolamine with sulfuric acid morpholine can be generated.

Physical Properties

The dynamic viscosity of Diethanolamine is 352 mPa · s at 30 ° C.

Use

Diethanolamine is used as:

  • As the solvent
  • As an intermediate for the production of washing raw materials, cement additives, pesticides and drilling and cutting oils ( coolants )
  • As a catalyst in the production of polyurethanes
  • As grinding aids for cement
  • As an absorbent for hydrogen sulfide ( H2S) and carbon dioxide ( CO2) in chemical processes ( amine scrubbing )
  • In pharmaceutical products or domestic products ( shoe polishes, floor care products ) as a plasticizer and humectant

Safety

Diethanolamine is classified as a health hazard and can cause allergies. By nitrosation of diethanolamine ( with nitrites ) may arise carcinogenic nitrosamines (eg N- nitrosodiethanolamine ).

Researchers at the University of North Carolina have found that diethanolamine affects the brain development of fetuses. They wandered in animal studies DEA to the skin of pregnant mice and found that the newborn mice were born with brain damage. In the area of the hippocampal brain cells grow more slowly under the influence of DEA while the death rate of the cells was increased. In cosmetics, however, only a much smaller dose of the substance contained, so that a health hazard by about shampoos is unlikely.

The risk posed by DEA -containing cosmetics, could be even much less than indicated by the researchers. According to a statement by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association ( CTFA) DEA was hardly ever used even in cosmetics. Typically, DEA produced as a decomposition product of alkanol amides ( reaction products of fatty acids with DEA ) or may be included in small amounts as unreacted starting material yet. Has the CTFA (corresponding DEA and ) is calculated for the use of shampoo with a very high, but realistic content of DEA -containing ingredients, the dose of DEA to the skin of the mice was even a thousand times higher than the dose in shampoos. Furthermore, it is pointed out by the CTFA in that the biological source of the brain, a change was Cholindefizienz in experimental mice, compared to the mice are more sensitive than humans.

CAS registry number PubChem Vapor pressure Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) Dehydration reaction Allergy Hippocampus Choline
12599
de