Ethanolamine (redirected from Ethanolamine oleate)

ethanolamine [‚eth·ə′näl·ə‚mēn]

(organic chemistry)

NH₂(CH₂)₂OH A colorless liquid, miscible in water; used in scrubbing hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from petroleum gas streams, for dry cleaning, in paints, and in pharmaceuticals.

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Ethanolamine 

any of three amino alcohols with the general formula RR′NCH₂CH₂OH—namely, monoethanolamine (also known as colamine; R = R′ = H), diethanolamine (R = H, R′ = CH₂CH₂OH), and triethanolamine (R = R′ = CH₂CH₂OH). These three alcohols have boiling points of 171°, 271°, and 360°C and densities (at 20°C) of 1.0179, 1.0919, and 1.1258 g/cm³, respectively.

Ethanolamines are usually produced by reacting concentrated ammonia with ethylene oxide and fractionating the mixture to separate the three types of ethanolamines. All three are viscous, hygroscopic liquids that readily dissolve in water, ethanol, and chloroform. They are weak bases. Monoethanolamine and diethanolamine are used as easily regenerated absorbing agents for acidic gases, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Triethanolamine is used as an inhibitor of corrosion and an antifreeze additive. Upon reaction with aliphatic carboxylic acids, ethanolamines yield surfactants (emulsifiers and detergents). Ethanolamines are also used for softening and finishing leather, and they serve as intermediates in the synthesis of drugs, insecticides, and preservatives. Certain derivatives of ethanolamines are common in nature; choline is one example.