Triethanolamine from Ethylene Oxide and Aqueous Ammonia

Ethylene oxide reacts with aqueous ammonia over an acidic ion-exchange bed at 60–150 °C and 30–150 bar, giving mono-, di- and triethanolamine; more ethylene oxide gives more of the tri-. The mixture is separated by distillation and unreacted feed goes back to the reactor. Ethylene oxide is a deadly gas: gated. The picture: our diagram of reactor and columns.