Monoethanolamine (MEA)
The benchmark molecule of the alkanolamine family: MEA is the workhorse amine-treater solvent used worldwide to strip carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide out of natural gas and flue-gas streams, alongside a wide feedstock role across detergents, emulsifiers and personal care.
Chelora Chemicals supplies monoethanolamine to gas-processing, surfactant and personal-care manufacturers worldwide, with full GHS documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 141-43-5
- IUPAC name
- 2-Aminoethan-1-ol
- Molecular formula
- C₂H₇NO
- Molecular weight
- 61.08 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 170 °C
- Melting point
- 10.3 °C
- SMILES
- NCCO
- HS Code
- 2922 11*
* Confirm the current HS classification and import regulatory status for your destination with your own regulatory affairs team.
What Monoethanolamine is used for
Monoethanolamine (MEA) is a viscous, colourless liquid with an unpleasant ammonia-like odour, fully miscible with water. It is the simplest of the ethanolamines — one hydroxyl group and one primary amine group on a two-carbon backbone — and the first molecule most people in the gas-processing industry mean when they just say "amine."
Its single largest application is as the aqueous solvent in amine treaters used for gas sweetening — stripping carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide out of sour natural gas and industrial flue-gas streams. Beyond gas treating, MEA is a key feedstock for detergents and emulsifiers, and finds further use in polishes, pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors, chemical intermediates, buffering agents, cosmetic pH regulation, and boiler-water alkalinization.
Where it sits among the ethanolamines
- Monoethanolamine (this product) one hydroxyl, one amine — the most reactive and the benchmark gas-treating amine.
- Diethanolamine two hydroxyls, one amine — also gas-treating, plus surfactant and diethanolamide chemistry. See that page.
- Triethanolamine three hydroxyls, no N–H — mainly a cement additive and cosmetics pH balancer. See that page.
Appearance and handling character
MEA is corrosive to skin and eyes, may irritate the respiratory tract, and is harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects — a consideration worth flagging for bulk gas-treating storage and disposal.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to pale yellow viscous liquid |
| Assay | 99.0% min |
| Water content | 0.5% max |
| Diethanolamine content | 0.3% max |
| Colour (Hazen) | 15 max |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Viscous liquid (solidifies below 10.3 °C) |
| Boiling point | 170 °C |
| Melting point | 10.3 °C |
| Density (20 °C) | 1.0117 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Fully miscible |
| Basicity | Moderate base, typical of alkanolamines |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 141-43-5 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this amine to work
One simple alkanolamine, powering gas-processing plants and personal-care formulations alike.
Natural gas sweetening
The benchmark aqueous amine for removing CO2 and H2S from sour natural gas streams.
- Gas-treating grade specification
- Bulk tank & contracted supply
- Technical desk review on request
Flue-gas CO2 capture
Used in amine-based carbon-capture systems treating industrial flue-gas streams.
- Multiple pack sizes available
- Full analytical documentation
- Contracted annual tonnage
Detergent & emulsifier feedstock
A key building block for detergent and emulsifier manufacture.
- Technical-grade specification
- Bulk tank or drum supply
- Contracted supply available
Cosmetics & personal care
Used for cosmetic pH regulation across creams, lotions and personal-care formulations.
- Research and process-scale quantities
- High-purity grade available on request
- Technical documentation supplied
Corrosion inhibitors & boiler water
Used as a corrosion-inhibitor intermediate and for boiler-water alkalinization.
- Packs from 25 kg drum / bulk
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Contract & scheduled supply
Gas-processing plants running continuous amine-treater consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Monoethanolamine
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Gas-processing plants run on continuous amine-treater consumption — a supply interruption is not an inconvenience, it's a plant shutdown risk. That shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Diethanolamine content confirmed before we quote. Co-product carryover matters to gas-treating amine performance and foaming.
- Bulk tank logistics managed end to end. Continuous-consumption gas plants need reliable scheduled delivery, not spot buying.
- Corrosive-liquid documentation filed correctly. Every shipment carries the correct hazard declarations.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your plant's consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, IBC or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200 L / 55 USG
Standard steel or poly drums for moderate-volume industrial and personal-care orders.
Intermediate bulk containers
For mid-volume orders where drum handling becomes a logistics burden.
Gas-treating bulk volumes
Bulk liquid transport sized to continuous amine-treater consumption at gas-processing plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your plant's consumption calendar.
Corrosive, and harmful to aquatic life
MEA's corrosivity and environmental persistence make spill containment the central handling concern in bulk storage. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H302Harmful if swallowed.H312Harmful in contact with skin.H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.H332Harmful if inhaled.H335May cause respiratory irritation.H412Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch. Handle with chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles and adequate ventilation; contain spills to prevent waterway contamination.
Storage
Store in tightly closed, corrosion-resistant containers. MEA solidifies below its 10.3 °C melting point, so bulk tanks in cooler climates may need heat-tracing to keep material pumpable.
Handling
Use with local exhaust ventilation. Avoid skin and eye contact; have emergency eyewash and safety-shower provision nearby. Contain any spill and prevent release to drains or watercourses.
Transport
Shipped in accordance with its corrosive-liquid classification. We confirm and document packing group and exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Assay and diethanolamine content confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How monoethanolamine is made
Monoethanolamine is produced industrially by the reaction of ethylene oxide with aqueous ammonia, a process that co-produces diethanolamine and triethanolamine in proportions controlled by the ammonia-to-ethylene-oxide ratio, separated by fractional distillation.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical and safety documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Alkanolamine, primary |
|---|---|
| Basic character | Moderate base, typical of alkanolamines |
| Reactivity | Reacts reversibly with CO2/H2S (gas treating); forms amides and esters |
| Common co-products | Diethanolamine, triethanolamine (shared production route) |
Explore the wider amine range
Monoethanolamine, answered
What is monoethanolamine (MEA) used for?
What is gas sweetening?
Is MEA hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
- Need a related amine? See our Diethanolamine and Triethanolamine pages.
Get a quote on Monoethanolamine today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.