Dodecyl/tetradecyl dimethyl amines （DMA1214)

Properties

♦ Chemical Structure

Dodecyl/Tetradecyl Dimethyl Amines;

Dodecyl dimethyl amine: C12H25N(CH3)2 (12-carbon alkyl chain).

T etradecyl dimethyl amine: C14H29N(CH3)2 (14-carbon alkyl chain).

Classification: Tertiary amines with two methyl groups and a long alkyl chain, acting as cationic surfactants  when protonated.

♦  Physical State

C12-14-alkyldimethyl amines is colorless to light yellow liquids, possibly with a slight odor depending on purity

♦  Solubility

Dodecyl/Tetradecyl Dimethyl Amines(DMA1214)  Sparingly soluble in water, highly soluble in organic

solvents (e.g., alcohols, ethers, hydrocarbons).

♦  Basicity

C12-14-alkyldimethyl amines weakly basic (pKa ~9–10), forming salts with acids.

♦  Melting & Boiling Points:

C12-14-alkyldimethyl amines vary with alkyl chain length. Dodecyl dimethyl amine (C12) has a melting  point

of ~15–20°Cand boiling point of ~240–250°C; tetradecyl dimethyl amine (C14) melts at ~25–30°C  and boils at ~280–300°C.

♦   Surface Activity:

Dodecyl/Tetradecyl Dimethyl Amines(DMA1214) Amphiphilic structure reduces liquid surface tension.

♦  Weak Alkalinity

Dodecyl/Tetradecyl Dimethyl Amines(DMA1214) Reacts with acids to form quaternary ammonium salts,enhancing water solubility.

♦   Reactivity

C12-14-alkyldimethyl amines can be further derivatized into cationic surfactants (e.g., quaternary compounds)

or betaine-type amphoteric surfactants.

 

Applications

♦   Surfactant Raw Materials

— Cationic Surfactants: Used in detergents, fabric softeners, and hair conditioners (e.g., quaternary ammonium salts).

— Biocides: Quaternary derivatives are common in disinfectants (e.g., benzalkonium chloride)

♦  Industrial Auxiliaries

–Petroleum Industry: As corrosion inhibitors, demulsifiers, or drilling fluid additives.

–Textile Industry: Antistatic agents and softeners.

–Metalworking: Lubricants and rust preventives.

♦  Cosmetics & Personal Care

Emulsifiers, thickeners, and conditioning agents for hair and skin.

♦ Other Uses

Intermediates for synthesizing amides, imidazolines, and other amine-based compounds.

 

Product Process

♦ Raw Material Preparation

–Fatty Alcohols: Derived from coconut or palm oil hydrogenation to produce C12 (dodecanol) and C14 (tetradecanol).

–Dimethylamine (DMA): Serves as the amination reagent.

♦  Reaction Conditions

–Catalyst: Nickel- or copper-based catalysts (e.g., Cu-Ni alloy).

–Temperature & Pressure: Reaction occurs at ~180–220°C under 3–5 MPa.

–Reaction Equation:R-OH+(CH3​)2​NHCatalyst​R-N(CH3​)2​+H2​O  (R = C12 or C14 alkyl chain).

♦    Separation and Purification

–Unreacted DMA and water are removed via distillation.

–Fractional distillation yields high-purity dodecyl and tetradecyl dimethyl amines.

♦   Environmental Considerations

Modern processes emphasize green chemistry, using bio-based feedstocks or optimized catalysts to improve selectivity

♦ Drying and Packaging

Once the DMA1214 product is obtained and purified, it is typically dried to remove any residual moisture.

The dried C12-14-alkyldimethyl amines is then packaged in suitable containers, ensuring proper sealing to maintain its quality.

Adequate labeling and storage conditions are maintained to ensure safe handling and storage of the product.

Inspection

♦ Inspection process

 Incoming inspection: The main raw materials,are inspected for their content, appearance and other

            main properties.

Feeding inspection: the principle of raw material feeding is first-in-first-out, and the appearance of the

main raw materials is randomly inspected according to whether there is a big change in the storage

conditions before feeding.

Batch sampling in the production process: During the production process, the main indexes of each batch

of products: content and acid value will be examined three times in different time periods.

Storage Inspection: Each batch (4tons) is inspected before storage.

Outbound inspection: According to the quantity demanded by customers, the products will be sampled

and inspected.

 Pre-shipment inspection: according to customer’s requirement, third party inspection can be carried

out on the products before shipment.

♦ Inspection Method

• Physical Appearance: Visual inspection

• Purity Analysis:Gas chromatography (GC)

• Acid Value:Potentiometric titration

• Water Content:Moisture analyzers

• Refractive Index:Refractometer

• Density:Density meter

Marking, packaging, shipping and storage

♦ Marking

Each batch of products should be accompanied by a certificate of conformity, including: the name of the

manufacturer, the name of the product, the production batch number, the net weight per barrel, the

quality level and the implementation of the standard number.weight, quality grade and implementation

standard number.

♦ Packing

Packed in clean and dry plastic drums, net weight 160±0.3kg per drum or 800±0.5kg, compressed and

sealed after each batch.

♦ Transportation

This product is packed in plastic drums, during transportation and loading/unloading, it should be carefully

and gently put down, and prevent from impact.

♦ Storage

The storage place should be cool, dry and ventilated. Do fireproof and rainproof.