2,2′,2″-Nitrilotriethanol · TEA 99%, TEA 85%, LR and AR grades
Triethanolamine is the tertiary member of the ethanolamine family — three hydroxyethyl arms on one nitrogen — and a staple for cement grinding aids, cosmetics, soaps and metalworking fluids. Chelora Amines supplies it worldwide to cement, personal care, detergent, metalworking and 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.
72.07 + 15.12 + 14.01 + 48.00 = 149.19 g/mol
Triethanolamine, usually shortened to TEA and also called 2,2′,2″-nitrilotriethanol, is a tertiary amine with three hydroxyethyl groups. It is a mild base, very low in volatility, fully miscible with water, and a good chelating agent for metal ions.
TEA melts at about 21.6 °C and supercools easily, so it is usually a viscous, colourless to pale yellow liquid that can crystallise in cold stores. It is sold in two main grades: TEA 99%, the high-purity product, and TEA 85%, which contains about 15% diethanolamine and is widely used in cement and industrial applications.
Triethanolamine is made by reacting ethylene oxide with ammonia and separating MEA, DEA and TEA by vacuum distillation. It is listed in Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, so exports are subject to end-use declarations and, for some destinations, licensing — routine for a properly documented supplier.
| Chemical name | 2,2′,2″-Nitrilotriethanol (triethanolamine) |
| Common synonyms | Triethanolamine, TEA, trolamine, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)amine, TEOA |
| CAS number | 102-71-6 |
| EC / EINECS number | 203-049-8 |
| HS / HSN code | 2922 15 (harmonised heading used worldwide; HSN 2922 15 on Indian invoices) |
| Molecular formula | C₆H₁₅NO₃ ((HOCH₂CH₂)₃N) |
| Molecular weight | 149.19 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colourless to pale yellow viscous liquid; may crystallise below 21 °C |
| Odour | Faint, ammoniacal |
| Melting point | 21.6 °C |
| Boiling point | About 335 °C |
| Density | About 1.124 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Vapour pressure | Below 0.01 hPa at 20 °C |
| Solubility in water | Completely miscible |
| pKa of conjugate acid | 7.76 at 25 °C |
| pH | About 10.5 (100 g/L solution) |
| Flash point | About 179 °C (closed cup) |
| Auto-ignition temperature | About 320 °C |
| Regulatory note | Listed in Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention — export controls apply |
Figures are typical literature values for orientation. Values for the material you order are stated on its Certificate of Analysis and Safety Data Sheet.
A tertiary nitrogen and three hydroxyl groups explain what TEA is used for: a mild base, a strong chelator and a surface-active dispersant, with three alcohol groups free to esterify. These are the jobs formulators and process chemists reach for it to do.
Neutralises fatty acids to give TEA soaps — TEA stearate and TEA oleate — that emulsify in creams, lotions, polishes and cutting oils, and forms TEA salts of sulfonic acids and carbomers.
RCOOH + TEA → RCOO⁻ TEAH⁺Adsorbs on freshly broken clinker surfaces, preventing re-agglomeration and coating of mill media, which raises mill output and early compressive strength.
dosage typically 0.01–0.05%Forms stable complexes with iron, copper, aluminium and titanium, keeping them in solution in cleaners, plating baths and textile processing.
Mⁿ⁺ + TEA → [M(TEA)]ⁿ⁺The three hydroxyl groups react with fatty acids to give TEA esters, which are quaternised to make esterquat fabric softeners.
TEA + 2 RCOOH → diesterA pKa of 7.76 gives buffering close to skin-neutral, so TEA is a common neutraliser for carbomer gels and a buffer in cosmetics and laboratory reagents.
pKa 7.76 at 25 °CReacts with titanium and zirconium alkoxides to give stable chelates used as crosslinkers in coatings, inks and oilfield fracturing fluids.
Ti(OR)₄ + TEA → Ti–TEA chelateActs as a crosslinker and co-catalyst in polyurethane foams and elastomers, and as an initiator for polyether polyols.
TEA + n PO → polyolAs a tertiary amine it absorbs CO₂ only slowly but H₂S quickly, and is used in some selective gas-treating blends.
R₃N + H₂S ⇌ R₃NH⁺ HS⁻Process notes. TEA is viscous and can crystallise below about 21 °C — warm gently and evenly and mix before use. In cosmetics, TEA 99% is preferred because TEA 85% contains diethanolamine. Neutralisation is mildly exothermic. Because TEA is a tertiary amine it does not itself form stable nitrosamines easily, but the DEA in TEA 85% can, so keep nitrites out of the system.
Discuss your processTEA comes out of the same reactor as MEA and DEA. Knowing how it is made explains why every specification states the DEA content — it is the main difference between TEA 85 and TEA 99.
Ethylene oxide is fed into aqueous ammonia at a low ammonia ratio, which favours the tri-substituted product.
The exothermic reaction runs in the liquid phase under pressure and controlled temperature.
The reactor delivers MEA, DEA and TEA together with unreacted ammonia and water.
Ammonia and water are stripped, then vacuum distillation separates MEA and DEA overhead and TEA as the heaviest cut.
TEA is taken off as high-purity TEA 99%, or blended with DEA to make TEA 85%, then tested and filled.
The real quality question is "how much DEA came with it". In TEA 85% the DEA is intentional and helps in cement, but in cosmetics DEA is unwanted because of nitrosamine rules. Residual MEA, water and higher ethoxylated by-products also affect odour, colour and performance.
Colour matters in personal care and water-white products: TEA darkens with heat and air exposure. If your product is colour- or DEA-sensitive, specify TEA 99% with a colour limit and we will match the batch rather than send a standard cut.
In sealed original packing, stored between about 20 and 35 °C and out of sunlight, TEA is normally used within twelve months, and we recommend a re-check of assay and colour after that before a critical batch. In cold weather it may crystallise or become very viscous; warm the closed drum evenly and mix — the product is not harmed.
Air and CO₂ ingress slowly raise colour, so 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. TEA 85% covers cement and most industrial use; TEA 99% is the choice for cosmetics, pharma and synthesis.
High-purity TEA with low DEA for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, carbomer neutralisation and synthesis.
TEA with about 15% DEA — the standard grade for cement grinding aids, metalworking and industrial cleaners.
TEA 99% with tighter colour and impurity limits for personal care and water-white formulations.
Tighter limits on related amines and water for R&D, buffers, method development and QC use.
| Parameter | Test method | Typical specification |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visual | Clear, viscous liquid, free from suspended matter |
| Purity (TEA) | GC | ≥ 99.0 % w/w |
| Diethanolamine | GC | ≤ 0.5 % w/w |
| Monoethanolamine | GC | ≤ 0.1 % w/w |
| Water | Karl Fischer | ≤ 0.2 % w/w |
| Colour | APHA | ≤ 50 |
| Density at 20 °C | Densitometer | 1.122 – 1.127 g/cm³ |
| Iron (Fe) | AAS / ICP | ≤ 1 ppm |
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.
This is the single most common question at enquiry stage, and the answer is decided by your end market rather than by price. Use the table to narrow it down, then send us the application and we will confirm.
| Point of comparison | TEA 99% | TEA 85% |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Cosmetics, pharma, carbomer gels, synthesis, buffers | Cement grinding aids, metalworking fluids, industrial cleaners, textiles |
| Diethanolamine content | ≤ 0.5% | Up to about 15% |
| Cosmetic suitability | Preferred grade | Generally avoided because of DEA |
| Freezing behaviour | Crystallises below about 21 °C | Stays liquid at lower temperatures |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Packs | Drums, IBCs, ISO tanks | Drums, IBCs, ISO tanks |
| Transport classification | Generally not regulated — see SDS | Generally not regulated — see SDS |
Three products from one ethylene oxide reactor, with very different behaviour in a formulation. Ordering the wrong one — or the wrong grade of the right one — is the most common and most expensive mistake with this family.
| Property | Monoethanolamine (MEA) | Diethanolamine (DEA) | Triethanolamine (TEA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAS number | 141-43-5 | 111-42-2 | 102-71-6 |
| Formula | HOCH₂CH₂NH₂ | (HOCH₂CH₂)₂NH | (HOCH₂CH₂)₃N |
| Molecular weight | 61.08 | 105.14 | 149.19 |
| Amine class | Primary — two N–H bonds | Secondary — one N–H bond | Tertiary — no N–H bond |
| Melting point | 10.3 °C | 28 °C | 21.6 °C |
| Boiling point | 170 °C | 269 °C (decomposes) | 335 °C |
| pKa of conjugate acid | 9.50 | 8.88 | 7.76 |
| State at 25 °C | Clear, mobile liquid | Solid or very viscous liquid | Viscous liquid (supercools easily) |
| Typical outlets | Gas treating, detergent salts, ethanolamides, ethyleneamines, wood preservation | Gas treating, diethanolamides, textile and metalworking auxiliaries, morpholine, iminodiacetic acid | Cement grinding aids, cosmetics and soaps, metalworking fluids, esterquats, titanate chelates |
A warning about abbreviations. DEA can mean diethanolamine or diethylamine, and TEA can mean triethanolamine or triethylamine — completely different products with different hazards. Triethanolamine is also sold as TEA 85 (with about 15% DEA) and TEA 99, which behave differently in cosmetics and cement. Always write the full chemical name, CAS number and grade on the enquiry and the purchase order.
See the full amine rangeMost TEA goes into cement, personal care, metalworking and cleaning products, with a long tail of chemical uses. Here is the full picture, sector by sector.
The core active in many cement grinding aids and quality improvers, raising mill throughput and early strength, usually alongside glycols and acetates.
A pH adjuster and emulsifier in creams, lotions, shaving products and hair care, and the classic neutraliser for carbomer gels.
Forms TEA soaps and TEA lauryl sulfate for liquid soaps and shampoos, and acts as a chelating alkaline builder in cleaners and car-care products.
Provides reserve alkalinity, corrosion protection and emulsion stability in soluble oils, semi-synthetic and synthetic coolants.
Feedstock for esterquat fabric softeners, and used in scouring, dyeing and finishing auxiliaries.
A crosslinker and catalyst in polyurethane foams, a source of titanate chelates for coatings and inks, and a dispersant in waterborne paints.
Used in some selective H₂S-removal blends, and in electronics and electroless plating as a complexing agent.
Forms TEA salts of herbicides, and is used in photographic chemicals, dust control and as a laboratory buffer.
If you are mapping a value chain or looking for the product one step down from where you are, this is where triethanolamine ends up. Several of these are chemicals we can also source for you.
| Derivative | Made by | End use |
|---|---|---|
| TEA stearate, TEA oleate soaps | Neutralisation of fatty acids | Creams, lotions, polishes and cutting oils |
| TEA lauryl sulfate | Neutralisation of lauryl sulfuric acid | Shampoos and liquid soaps |
| Esterquats | Esterification with fatty acids, then quaternisation | Fabric softeners |
| Cement grinding aid blends | Blending with glycols, acetates and DEA | Cement mills and quality improvers |
| Titanium and zirconium TEA chelates | Reaction with metal alkoxides | Crosslinkers for coatings, inks and fracturing fluids |
| TEA-initiated polyols | Alkoxylation with EO or PO | Polyurethane foams and elastomers |
| Carbomer and acrylic salts | Neutralisation of acrylic thickeners | Gels and personal care 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.
HDPE and MS drums — the most common pack for TEA 99% and TEA 85%.
Forklift-ready totes with bottom valves for cement and cosmetic plants.
500 mL to 25 L packs for laboratory, pilot and qualification work.
Road tankers and insulated ISO tanks, with heating for cold-season shipments.
Share your monthly consumption, the grade you need and your storage temperature, and we will recommend the 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 supplyTriethanolamine is a mild base with low acute toxicity, but it can irritate the eyes and 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.
Triethanolamine is generally not a dangerous good for transport, but it is a Schedule 3 chemical under the Chemical Weapons Convention. That is routine for us, but it shapes what we need from you before a first export shipment moves.
| Item | Classification |
|---|---|
| Proper shipping name | Not regulated as a dangerous good in most modes — confirm on the SDS |
| UN number | None assigned for transport in most modes |
| Labels | GHS labelling as stated on the SDS |
| Modes | Road, sea and air as non-dangerous cargo |
| Export control | Chemical Weapons Convention Schedule 3 — end-use declarations; licences for some destinations |
| Segregation | Away from strong acids, oxidisers and nitrites |
Triethanolamine is listed in Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention. We supply it only against verified company credentials and a stated industrial end use, and exports to some destinations require a licence before shipment. Tell us the destination at enquiry stage and we will confirm the documentation needed so customs clearance is not delayed.
Start account opening| Parameter | Specification | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear viscous liquid | Complies |
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.0 % | Complies |
| Diethanolamine | ≤ 0.5 % | Complies |
| Water (KF) | ≤ 0.2 % | Complies |
| Colour (APHA) | ≤ 50 | Complies |
Triethanolamine 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 triethanolamine 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.
TEA crystallises at about 21 °C; together with the GC result for DEA, it confirms whether a drum is TEA 99% or TEA 85% before release.
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 triethanolamine. 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.
Triethanolamine 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.
Triethanolamine 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 triethanolamine 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 triethanolamine 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 triethanolamine 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 triethanolamine 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.