2-(Methylamino)ethanol · ≥ 99% commercial grade, LR and AR grades
N-Methylethanolamine is a secondary amino alcohol — one methyl group and one hydroxyethyl group on the nitrogen — used as a building block for pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates, in gas-treating blends, textile softeners and coatings. Chelora Amines supplies it worldwide to pharmaceutical, agrochemical, gas-processing and specialty chemical plants across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas, as well as throughout India, with a batch-wise COA and SDS on every dispatch.
36.03 + 9.07 + 14.01 + 16.00 = 75.11 g/mol
N-Methylethanolamine, usually shortened to NMEA or MMEA and also called 2-(methylamino)ethanol, is a secondary amine with a methyl group and a hydroxyethyl group on the nitrogen. It is a strong, water-miscible base with one reactive N–H and one hydroxyl.
It is a clear, colourless to pale yellow liquid with an ammoniacal, fishy odour, freezing at about −5 °C and boiling at about 158 °C. It absorbs carbon dioxide and water from the air, so sealed packing and nitrogen blanketing help keep colour and assay stable.
NMEA is made by reacting ethylene oxide with methylamine; N-methyldiethanolamine forms alongside it and is separated by distillation. As a secondary amine, NMEA can form nitrosamines with nitrosating agents, so nitrites should be kept away from it.
| Chemical name | 2-(Methylamino)ethanol (N-methylethanolamine) |
| Common synonyms | N-Methylethanolamine, NMEA, MMEA, monomethylethanolamine, methylaminoethanol |
| CAS number | 109-83-1 |
| EC / EINECS number | 203-710-0 |
| HS / HSN code | 2922 19 (harmonised heading used worldwide; HSN 2922 19 on Indian invoices) |
| Molecular formula | C₃H₉NO (CH₃NHCH₂CH₂OH) |
| Molecular weight | 75.11 g/mol |
| Appearance | Clear, colourless to pale yellow liquid |
| Odour | Ammoniacal, fishy |
| Melting / freezing point | About −5 °C |
| Boiling point | About 158 °C |
| Density | About 0.935 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Solubility in water | Completely miscible |
| pH | Strongly alkaline in aqueous solution |
| Flash point | About 72 °C (closed cup) |
| UN number | UN 2735, Amines, liquid, corrosive, n.o.s. (2-methylaminoethanol), Class 8, Packing Group III — confirm on the SDS |
Figures are typical literature values for orientation. Values for the material you order are stated on its Certificate of Analysis and Safety Data Sheet.
One N–H, one methyl and one hydroxyl group explain what NMEA is bought for: introducing an N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl unit, absorbing acid gases and acting as a strong, water-miscible base.
Displaces halides and sulfonates to give tertiary N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl amines, a common step in pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis.
R–X + NMEA → R–N(CH₃)CH₂CH₂OHReacts with acid chlorides, anhydrides and esters to give N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl amides.
RCOCl + NMEA → RCON(CH₃)CH₂CH₂OHAbsorbs CO₂ and H₂S quickly in aqueous solution and is studied and used as a rate activator in gas-treating blends.
2 R₂NH + CO₂ ⇌ carbamateNeutralises fatty, sulfonic and acidic herbicide acids to give soluble salts for formulations.
RCOOH + NMEA → saltThe hydroxyl group reacts with acids to give amino esters, intermediates for softeners and specialty monomers.
RCOOH + NMEA → amino esterAfter alkylation or esterification, the nitrogen can be quaternised to give cationic softeners and surfactants.
R₃N + CH₃Cl → R₃N⁺CH₃ Cl⁻Raises pH and forms protective films in coatings, cleaners and process water.
strong baseAs a secondary amine, NMEA reacts with nitrites and other nitrosating agents to form nitrosamines. Keep nitrites out of the process.
R₂NH + HNO₂ → R₂N–NOProcess notes. Reactions with NMEA are usually exothermic, so add it under control and keep cooling available. It is corrosive — handle it as you would MEA. Keep drums closed to avoid CO₂ pick-up, and keep nitrites away from the product.
Discuss your processPractically all commercial NMEA comes from the same route. Knowing how it is made explains why the specification controls N-methyldiethanolamine, water and colour.
Ethylene oxide is fed into methylamine, with excess amine to favour the mono-adduct.
The exothermic reaction runs under pressure and controlled temperature.
The reactor delivers NMEA together with N-methyldiethanolamine, unreacted methylamine and water.
Methylamine is recovered and recycled, and distillation separates NMEA from MDEA.
NMEA is tested for purity, water and colour, then filled into drums or totes under nitrogen.
The real quality question is "what else came with it". Residual MDEA is a tertiary amine that will not react at the nitrogen, so it reports as unusable mass in a synthesis; water dilutes the amine and can interfere with moisture-sensitive steps.
For pharmaceutical intermediates, tighter limits on related amines and colour are common. If your step is sensitive, say so at enquiry stage and we will quote against your specification.
In sealed original packing, stored cool and out of sunlight, NMEA is normally used within twelve months, and we recommend a re-check of assay and colour after that before a critical batch. Air and carbon dioxide ingress raise colour and form carbamate.
Keep drums closed between draws and blanket bulk tanks with nitrogen. A retained sample of each batch is held here, so any query can be tested against the original material.
Tell us the application and we will confirm the grade. Commercial grade covers gas treating and most synthesis; tighter grades are available for pharmaceutical use.
The everyday grade for synthesis, gas-treating blends, softeners and coatings.
Tighter limits on MDEA, water and colour for pharmaceutical and fine-chemical intermediates.
Tighter limits on related amines and water for R&D and QC.
| Parameter | Test method | Typical specification |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visual | Clear liquid, free from suspended matter |
| Purity (NMEA) | GC | ≥ 99.0 % w/w |
| N-Methyldiethanolamine | GC | ≤ 0.5 % w/w |
| Water | Karl Fischer | ≤ 0.3 % w/w |
| Colour | APHA | ≤ 20 |
| Density at 20 °C | Densitometer | 0.932 – 0.938 g/cm³ |
Indicative specification for planning. The controlling document is the Certificate of Analysis issued for your batch. If your process needs tighter limits, say so at enquiry stage and we will quote against your specification.
NMEA is often compared with its neighbours. The number of groups on the nitrogen decides what it can still react with. Use the table to narrow it down, then send us the application and we will confirm.
| Point of comparison | NMEA | MEA | DMEA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amine class | Secondary — one N–H | Primary — two N–H | Tertiary — no N–H |
| Best suited to | N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl intermediates, gas-treating activator | Gas treating, detergent salts, ethanolamides | Coatings, polyurethane catalysts, monomers |
| Further substitution | Once | Twice | Only quaternisation |
| Freezing point | About −5 °C | About 10 °C | About −59 °C |
| Flash point | About 72 °C | About 86–93 °C | About 39 °C |
| Transport | UN 2735, Class 8, PG III | UN 2491, Class 8, PG III | UN 2051, Class 8 (3), PG II |
The alkylethanolamines are made by adding ethylene oxide to methylamine, dimethylamine or diethylamine instead of ammonia. The alkyl groups on the nitrogen change basicity, volatility, flammability and what the amine can still react with.
| Property | N-Methylethanolamine (NMEA) | N,N-Dimethylethanolamine (DMEA) | N,N-Diethylethanolamine (DEEA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAS number | 109-83-1 | 108-01-0 | 100-37-8 |
| Formula | CH₃NHCH₂CH₂OH | (CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂OH | (C₂H₅)₂NCH₂CH₂OH |
| Molecular weight | 75.11 | 89.14 | 117.19 |
| Amine class | Secondary — one N–H bond | Tertiary — no N–H bond | Tertiary — no N–H bond |
| Boiling point | About 158 °C | About 134 °C | About 161 °C |
| Freezing point | About −5 °C | About −59 °C | About −70 °C |
| Flash point (closed cup) | About 72 °C | About 39 °C | About 50 °C |
| Transport | UN 2735, Class 8, PG III | UN 2051, Class 8 (3), PG II | UN 2686, Class 8 (3), PG II |
| Typical outlets | Pharma and agro intermediates, gas-treating blends, softeners | Waterborne coatings, polyurethane catalysts, DMAEMA monomers, boiler treatment | Pharma intermediates, steam-condensate treatment, DEAEMA monomers, softeners |
Similar names, different products. NMEA, DMEA and DEEA are often confused with each other and with MEA, DEA or MDEA (N-methyldiethanolamine). DMEA is also sold as DMAE or deanol, and DEEA as DEAE. Always write the full chemical name, the CAS number and the grade on the enquiry and on the purchase order.
See the full amine rangeNMEA is a specialty amine: most of it goes into pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis, gas treating, softeners and coatings. Here is the full picture, sector by sector.
A building block for active ingredients and intermediates that carry an N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl or N-methylaminoethyl group.
Used in the synthesis of crop-protection intermediates and to form amine salts of acidic actives.
Used as a rate activator in blends with tertiary amines for CO₂ and H₂S removal.
Esterified and quaternised to make cationic softeners and antistatic agents.
Used as a neutraliser and modifier in waterborne coatings, and in epoxy and polyurethane systems.
An intermediate for cationic and amphoteric surfactants and a base in cleaning formulations.
Used in corrosion-inhibitor packages for process water and metal treatment.
A starting material for specialty amines, monomers and ion-exchange resins.
If you are mapping a value chain or looking for the product one step down from where you are, this is where N-methylethanolamine ends up. Several of these are chemicals we can also source for you.
| Derivative | Made by | End use |
|---|---|---|
| N-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl intermediates | Substitution or amidation | Pharmaceutical and agrochemical active ingredients |
| Amino esters | Esterification with fatty or other acids | Softener and monomer intermediates |
| Cationic softeners | Esterification then quaternisation | Fabric softeners and antistatic agents |
| Gas-treating solvent blends | Blending with tertiary amines and water | CO₂ and H₂S removal |
| Amine salts | Neutralisation of acidic actives | Agrochemical and specialty formulations |
Looking for one of these rather than the amine itself? Ask us — several are within our sourcing network, and we can quote the derivative and the raw material together.
Every container carries the Chelora Amines label with product name, grade, net weight, batch number, manufacturing date, UN number where applicable and hazard pictograms.
UN-approved HDPE and MS drums, nitrogen-flushed.
Forklift-ready UN totes for regular users.
500 mL to 25 L packs for laboratory, pilot and qualification work.
ISO tanks for high-volume users on request.
Share your monthly consumption and the step you are running, and we will recommend the grade, pack size and delivery schedule that keeps your plant running without excess inventory. Export consignments are packed in UN-specification or export-grade containers, palletised and stretch-wrapped, and shipped FOB, CIF or CFR through Nhava Sheva and Mundra.
Plan my supplyN-Methylethanolamine is a corrosive base that causes severe skin burns and eye damage and is harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin. The notes below are a summary for planning only — always work to the Safety Data Sheet supplied with your consignment and your own site risk assessment.
N-Methylethanolamine ships as a Class 8 corrosive. That is routine for us, but it shapes the packing, labelling and paperwork before a first shipment moves.
| Item | Classification |
|---|---|
| Proper shipping name | Amines, liquid, corrosive, n.o.s. (2-methylaminoethanol) |
| UN number | UN 2735 — confirm on the SDS for your batch |
| Hazard class | Class 8 (corrosive) |
| Packing group | III |
| Labels | Corrosion pictogram |
| Modes | Road, sea (IMDG) and air within dangerous goods quantity limits |
| Segregation | Away from acids, oxidisers and food-grade cargo |
Because NMEA is a dangerous good, export bookings need correct UN packaging, labelling and a dangerous goods declaration, and some destinations require importer registration or inventory listing such as REACH. Tell us the destination at enquiry stage and we will confirm what is needed before the shipment is booked.
Start account opening| Parameter | Specification | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear liquid | Complies |
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.0 % | Complies |
| N-Methyldiethanolamine | ≤ 0.5 % | Complies |
| Water (KF) | ≤ 0.3 % | Complies |
| Colour (APHA) | ≤ 20 | Complies |
N-Methylethanolamine is checked before dispatch and each consignment leaves with the paperwork your QC, stores and accounts teams need on day one.
The numbers on a Certificate of Analysis are only useful if you know how they were produced. These are the methods behind the figures on ours, and the checks worth repeating at your own goods-inward.
Separates N-methylethanolamine from the related amines made in the same reactor, and gives the assay and impurity profile that matter most to your formulation.
An independent check on total amine content, useful as a quick goods-inward confirmation before a drum is released to production.
Water determination, which matters for anhydrous grades and confirms strength on aqueous grades.
A visual platinum–cobalt comparison. A rising colour value is the earliest sign that a pack has been exposed to air, heat or held too long.
Fast confirmation that the material is what the label says, and a simple way to spot dilution or the wrong pack.
A quick physical check alongside GC — a shifted freezing point flags water or MDEA before a drum is released.
A sample from every dispatched batch is held here, so a query months later can be settled against the original material rather than an argument.
Batch number on the label ties back to the COA, the test record and the supply lot, which is what your auditor will ask to see.
Where your customer or regulator needs an independent result, we can arrange analysis at a NABL-accredited laboratory before dispatch.
Five steps for a first order of N-methylethanolamine. Repeat orders follow the same route on a schedule that matches your consumption.
Grade, quantity, pack size and delivery location or destination port.
We confirm the grade for your application and quote, usually within 24 hours.
The batch is tested and the COA, SDS and invoice details are prepared.
Labelled packs move by road, or in export packing for overseas buyers.
Material reaches your gate and repeat dispatches are scheduled to your usage.
N-Methylethanolamine is a commodity on a price list. What separates suppliers is grade flexibility, the paperwork and the answer you get when something is not routine.
N-Methylethanolamine sits alongside more than fifty other amines we stock, from ethanolamines to fatty amines. Your purchase team raises one enquiry, compares one quote and manages one vendor record instead of six.
Different purities and supply forms of N-methylethanolamine are available, so you are not forced to redesign a formulation around the only grade your supplier happens to carry.
COA, SDS, correct HSN and HS codes, transport declarations and certificates of origin are prepared with the consignment, not chased afterwards by your logistics team.
Tell us your limits on purity, related amines, water or colour and we quote against them, rather than sending the standard cut and letting your QC department find out.
Once we know your monthly draw we hold and release material on a schedule, so you carry less inventory than you otherwise would.
Describe the application rather than the product code and we will tell you which grade fits — and say so plainly when a different amine would serve you better.
Buyers who order N-methylethanolamine usually source these from the same list. Open any product for its specification, grades and packing, or see the full product range.
Container shipments to buyers on five continents, plus road dispatch inside India. Tell us your country and destination port and we will quote landed terms, transit time and the documentation your customs broker will ask for.
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Czechia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Türkiye, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and the Caribbean, shipped in UN-specification packaging with full DG documentation.
| Incoterms quoted | EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF and DAP, depending on your destination and preference |
| Load ports | Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with Chennai and Kolkata used for eastbound routings |
| Container options | Full container loads, and consolidated LCL shipments for smaller quantities |
| Typical container fill | Around 80 drums of 200 kg, or roughly 18 to 20 IBC totes, in a 20 ft container |
| Packing for export | UN-specification drums and totes, palletised, strapped and stretch-wrapped, with DG labelling |
| Air freight | Possible for small quantities, within dangerous goods limits where the product is classified |
| Payment terms | Advance, irrevocable letter of credit or agreed credit terms for established accounts |
| Before first shipment | Company credentials, end-use declaration and any import permit the destination country requires |
Most delays in quoting N-methylethanolamine come from a missing line in the enquiry, not from availability. Send these eight details and a firm price usually comes back the same day.
Not sure of some of it yet? Send what you have. A description of the application and an approximate monthly volume is enough for us to come back with a recommended grade, a pack plan and an indicative price.
Send an enquiryPlain definitions of the words that appear on a N-methylethanolamine specification, label and shipping document.
Short answers to what purchase, plant and QC teams ask us most about this product. Anything else, ask us directly.
Send the grade, quantity, pack size and your delivery address or destination port. We come back with a price, the documents that go with the batch and a dispatch or shipping plan, usually within 24 hours.