Morpholine is incredibly common but a surprisingly little-known substance. It has applications as diverse as cleaning, rubber production, construction, heating and cooling, personal care, agriculture, and so much more.
And yet, for all its usefulness, morpholine is strangely invisible. People don’t often think or write about morpholine, and it really is practically invisible, as it is a colorless, easily soluble substance.
So what is morpholine? It’s an amine-ether compound, a derivative of both ammonia and nitrogen. It is a base as opposed to an acid. And although it is used in medicine, it is not chemically related to morphine. But if someone mistakenly thinks it is, they’re in good company. Ludwig Knorr, the accomplished German chemist who discovered morpholine in the late 1800s, also made that mistake initially. (Hence, the name.)
Because morpholine is so versatile, this article will not attempt to cover all of its uses. Instead, we’ll focus on industrial applications. This aspect of morpholine itself offers a rich cross section of uses, and industry is the place where morpholine is the most indispensable. Before we look at that, however, let’s take a close look at how this remarkably versatile substance is created in the first place.
How is morpholine made?
There are three common methods for making morpholine.
Dehydration of Diethanolamine With Acid
In this process, morpholine is derived from diethanolamine, an organic compound created by mixing ethylene oxide and ammonia. A strong acid is heated to at least 150 Celsius and added to the diethanolamine. This reaction is then neutralized with an alkali or other base. The resulting liquid contains morpholine, which is distilled through the use of a solvent.
This is ultimately a “dehydration” process in chemical terms, because the hydrogen and oxygen atoms that make water are removed from diethanolamine’s structure, leaving behind morpholine molecules.
Hydrogenating and Vaporizing Diethylene Glycol and Ammonia
This method, developed in the 1980s, has become the most common way to make morpholine, due to its speed and efficiency.
Diethylene glycol and ammonia are combined with hydrogen. A catalyst substance (typically a metal such as copper, nickel or cobalt) is also in the mix to trigger the hydrogenation– the molecular infusion of hydrogen– of the diethylene glycol and ammonia. The whole mixture is then heated to between 150 and 400 Celsius and pressurized.
The resulting chemical reaction creates a solution that contains morpholine molecules. The morpholine is then extracted from the mixture by vaporization. The morpholine escapes in the vapor and is collected. (In chemistry, this kind of vaporization extraction method is also known as a stripping operation.)
Combining Ether and Dry Ammonia
Here, ether, specifically a bis (2-chloroethy1) ether compound is mixed with dry, water-free ammonia and a chemically compatible solvent. These chemicals are stored together in warm but not boiling temperatures of 50 Celsius for 24 hours. The mix is stored in a completely sealed, sturdily rigid container– a closed vessel in chemistry terms– so that the mixture doesn’t increase in volume while the chemical and heat reactions happen.
Once the vessel is unsealed, excess ammonia is vented, and the reaction leaves behind ammonium chloride and morpholine. The morpholine is then distilled from the solution.
Common Industrial Uses for Morpholine
As mentioned earlier, morpholine’s most common and important applications are all in industry. Here is a rundown of some of the major industrial uses of morpholine:
Cleaning products:
- Morpholine is used as an abrasive cleaner and a brightening agent in cleaning solutions and heavy duty detergents. It’s particularly useful in dry cleaning.
- As an emulsifier, morpholine helps industrial waxes and polishes maintain their consistency.
Coatings and Sealants
- Morpholine is the active ingredient in the resin base for curable inks, coatings, and adhesives.
- This chemical also is an accelerant for the vulcanization of rubber, including rubber seals.
Metalwork
- Morpholine serves as a component in dual lubricant and cooling fluids that are used to keep metal from getting excessively hot while it is machined, ground, and crafted into different pieces for use.
- Morpholine can also be applied as an anti-corrosive for steel and tin.
Heating and Cooling
- Morpholine helps stabilize heat transfer fluids– conductive liquids in heating systems such as boiler water. One of the chief ways morpholine does this is by acting as a base that neutralizes acid contamination in heat transfer systems. This keeps the heat transferring liquid from becoming corrosive and damaging the heating systems.
Paper and cardboard
- Due to morpholine’s fungicidal nature, many paper and cardboard products have a morpholine coating that prevents mildew and rot.
- Morpholine also reduces foaming, a common reaction in paper and cardboard production, acting as an anti-foaming agent and paper mills.
Where Can You Purchase Morpholine?
ChemCeed is a distributor of this very versatile industrial agent, and we sell to companies in the construction industry and in many other fields. Check out the morpholine page in our catalog, where you can contact us for a quote. If you have other questions about morpholine and its uses before you order it, please contact us.