Triethanolamine, also known as tri (2-hydroxyethyl) amine, can be regarded as a trihydroxy substitute of triethylamine. CAS：102-71-6.Similar to other amine compounds, due to the presence of lone pair electrons on nitrogen atoms, triethanolamine has weak alkalinity and can react with inorganic or organic acids to form salts. Description: Colorless to light yellow transparent viscous liquid with a slight ammonia odor, becomes a colorless to light yellow cubic crystal system at low temperatures. When exposed to the air, the color gradually darkens. Easy to dissolve in water, ethanol, acetone, glycerol, and ethylene glycol, slightly soluble in benzene, ether, and carbon tetrachloride, almost insoluble in non-polar solvents. The solubility at 5 ℃ is 4.2% for benzene, 1.6% for ether, 0.4% for carbon tetrachloride, and less than 0.1% for n-hexane. It is strongly alkaline, and the pH of a 0.1mol/L aqueous solution is 10.5. It is stimulating. Has hygroscopicity. Can absorb acidic gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Pure triethanolamine has no effect on materials such as steel, iron, and nickel, but has significant corrosion on copper, aluminum, and their alloys. Unlike monoethanolamine and diethanolamine, triethanolamine and iodohydrogen acid (HI) can form iodohydrogen salt precipitates. Flammable. Low toxicity. Avoid contact with oxidants and acids.
Used as a raw material for synthesizing surfactants, detergents, stabilizers, and fabric softeners. In cosmetic formulas, it is used to neutralize with fatty acids to form soap, and to synthesize amine salts with sulfated fatty alcohols. Waste gas treatment is a cleaning solution that neutralizes acidic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. It is also used as a vulcanization activator for natural rubber and synthetic rubber, as well as a polymerization activator for nitrile rubber. It is also used as an anti-corrosion additive for lubricating oil, dye solvent, papermaking additive, ink, etc.