Usage areas of Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine, often abbreviated as TEA, is a viscous organic compound that is both a tertiary amine and a triol. A triol is a molecule with three alcohol groups. Triethanolamine is a strong base. Triethanolamine is also abbreviated as TEOA, which can help distinguish it from triethylamine. Approximately 150,000 tons were produced in 1999. It is a colorless compound, but samples may appear yellow due to impurities.

Triethanolamine is produced from the reaction of ethylene oxide with aqueous ammonia, and ethanolamine and diethanolamine are produced. The ratio of products can be controlled by varying the stoichiometry of the reactants.

Triethanolamine is primarily used for making surfactants as well as for emulsifiers. It is a common ingredient for formulations used for both industrial and consumer products. Triethanolamine neutralizes fatty acids, adjusts and buffers pH, and dissolves other components that are completely insoluble in oils and water. In some cases, triethylammonium salts are more soluble than salts of alkali metals that might otherwise be used and produce less alkaline products than the use of alkali metal hydroxides to form salts. Some common products with triethanolamine include; sunscreen lotions, liquid laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, general cleaners, hand sanitizers, polishes, metalworking fluids, paints, shaving cream and ink prints.

Usage areas

• Triethanolamine is also used as an organic additive (0.1% by weight) in the grinding of cement clinker. It facilitates the grinding process by preventing the agglomeration and coating of the dust of the balls and the mill wall.
• In pharmacy, triethanolamine is the active ingredient in some ear drops used to treat pulsed earwax.
• It is also used in many different cosmetic products, cleansing creams and milks, skin lotions, eye gels, moisturizers, shampoos, shaving foams, etc. is used.
• Another common use of TEA is as a complexing agent for aluminum ions in aqueous solutions.
• Used for masking prior to complexometric titrations with another chelating agent such as EDTA.