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Safety ConcernsEthanolamines are not dangerouswhen used and handled properly.Ethanolamines can cause seriousinjury to the eyes (eye contact withMEA may cause permanent eye dam-age). Ethanolamines are corrosive tothe skin and may cause severe burns.With this knowledge, strict precautionsshould be developed for handling.Occasional, brief contact with the skinshould be thoroughly washed off andshould have little adverse effect.

General

Storage TanksType 316L stainless steel has beenshown to induce extremely low corro-sion rates and is the best choice forbulk storage of ethanolamines. If316L stainless steel is not available,the next best choice is 304L stainlesssteel. Mild steel or black iron is satis-factory for storage tanks if colorationof the ethanolamine is not a concern.

Aluminum can result in severe corro-sion and coloration of the productsunder certain conditions. Due tosevere pitting, aluminum may fail. Thisproblem is accelerated by water andelevated temperatures. Hydrogengeneration is also possible duringthe reaction of aluminum andethanolamines.

High density polyethylene is accept-able for use with ethanolamines.Other plastics have not demonstratedthe same resistance.

DrumsTransport of ethanolamines in drumsis a common route of distribution.

or shipment of MEA.All other products are shipped in phos-phatized cold rolled steel drums.

Storage TemperaturesEthanolamines become very viscousjust above their freezing temperature.Because of this, they must bepumped and stored at elevated tem-peratures. Guidelines for minimumand maximum temperatures forpumping and storing are:

PipingStainless steel (316L) is the bestmaterial for piping since it can beheat traced and insulated. In someinstallations, HDPE is used and issatisfactory.

Gaskets/Pump SealsOnly a few materials have beendetermined to resist attack byethanolamines. Graphite filled, EPDM,perfluoropolymers and Teflon fluoro-polymers below 200°F are compatiblewith ethanolamines.

TransportEthanolamines can be shipped in bulkby tank truck or rail car. Blue plasticor steel drums are also available. Thedrum material is picked based on theproduct. Some products come only inplastic and others in steel drums. Afull truck is 80 drums and a full oceangoing container is 76 drums. A mini-mum two-week lead time is requiredfor all products. Depending on ship-ment location, a minimum order isrequired, so please check with yourlocal INEOS sales office to deter minethis quantity.

EthanolaminesStorage and Handling Considerations

Product Information

Minimum Maximum

Monoethanolamine 27°C (80°F) 38°C (100°F)

Diethanolamine 38°C (100°F) 49°C (120°F)

Triethanolamine 35°C (95°F) 46°C (115°F)

Ethanolamines are not corrosivewhen stored in vessels made ofcompatible material. Protecting theproducts from exposure to the airwill prevent oxidation, which will lead to discoloration. This practice will also prevent absorbtion of waterif keeping the product anhydrous isimportant to your application. Prod-ucts becoming frozen is a concern due to the freezing points of the com-pounds. A separate technical datasheet adresses this issue.

INEOS uses HDPE (high density polyeurythane)f

For more information on INEOSethanolamines, call 1-866-865-4767(toll free in the U.S. & Canada).