MMA, DMA, TMA

The reaction of ammonia and methanol in the presence of a solid acid catalyst forms a mixture of mono-, di- and trimethylamine (MMA, DMA and TMA, respectively).

METHYLAMINE PRODUCTION

Methylamine production

The reaction of ammonia and methanol in the presence of a solid acid

catalyst forms a mixture of mono-, di- and trimethylamine (MMA,

DMA and TMA, respectively). They are important intermediates in the

manufacture of various industrial chemicals. The major outlets for the

respective amines include

■MMA: chemicals (n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and n-methyl

diethanolamine), pesticides and explosives

■DMA: chemicals (dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide), water

treatment chemicals and detergents

■TMA: animal food additives (choline chloride)

CATALYST

Currently, all the catalysts used for methylamine production yield the equilibrium composition of methylamines. Zeolites with narrow pores show enhanced selectivity for DMA. However, they have lower activity and stability than amorphous catalysts. The Nitto process for production of MMA and DMA is based on technology using zeolites. However, sizeable quantities of TMA are formed and therefore this process requires an amorphous silica alumina catalyst (in a separate reactor) to disproportionate TMA

PROCESS DESCRIPTION

Methylamines are synthesized from methanol and excess ammonia in a gas-phase reaction at 300–500ºC and at elevated pressure in the presence of a solid acid catalyst to form an equilibrium mixture

of roughly 25:30:45 MMA:DMA:TMA. With the market favoring DMA production, large quantities of MMA and TMA have to be recycled to maximize the production of DMA. This is the basis for the well-known Leonard process,

METHYLAMINES PROCESS FLOW

MA APPLICATION

Water Treatment: DMA is utilized as a raw material to produce agents that remove suspended solids for water clarification in industrial and municipal raw, potable and wastewater treatment plants.
Agriculture: MMA is used to make intermediates for a wide range of agricultural chemicals. These include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, biocides and miticides
Electronics: DMFAis used to make many of the circuit boards essential to electronics. DMA can be used to produce an accelerator for epoxy resins in laminates for electrical equipment. Tetramethylammonium hydroxide from TMA is a photoresist stripper used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. TMA-hydrochloride is used to make specialty chemicals for the electronics industry. React with y-butyrolactone to generate N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP)
Oil and Gas: MMA and DMA are used to produce alkylalkanolamines, methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and monomethylethanolamine (MMEA). MDEA is especially important in removing acidic components in natural gas, such as hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, carbonyl sulfide and carbon monoxide. TMA is used to produce choline chloride for use in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) as a downhole clay stabilizer.