Monoisopropanolamine (MIPA) CAS 78-96-6

What is Monoisopropanolamine (MIPA)?

Monoisopropanolamine is the propylene oxide counterpart of monoethanolamine — a primary amine and a secondary alcohol on a three-carbon chain, CH₃CH(OH)CH₂NH₂. The extra methyl group looks minor on paper and changes a surprising amount in a formulation.

That methyl makes the molecule bulkier and more oil-tolerant than MEA, and it moves the hydroxyl from primary to secondary, which slows esterification and alkoxylation at that end. Most practically for formulators, it gives noticeably less foaming than the corresponding ethanolamine — which is why water-based metalworking fluids, where foam is a constant nuisance, have moved steadily toward MIPA.

It is a clear, colourless, slightly viscous liquid boiling at about 160 °C with a mild ammoniacal odour, freezing near 2 °C and fully miscible with water. The flash point is around 77 °C, so it is combustible rather than flammable and handles comfortably.

Commercially, MIPA's largest markets are metalworking fluids and cement additives, with substantial further use in agrochemical salt formation, waterborne coating neutralisation, surfactants and personal care. It is also used in gas treating where its properties suit the duty better than an ethanolamine.

Why monoisopropanolamine specifically

• Lower foaming than MEA. The methyl group disrupts the surface packing that drives foam. In a recirculating metalworking fluid that is the difference between a usable system and a persistent problem.
• Better oil tolerance. Bulkier and more lipophilic than MEA, so it stays compatible in emulsions with higher oil content.
• Secondary hydroxyl, primary amine. The amine stays fully reactive while the hydroxyl is slower and more selective — useful where you want to react one end and not the other.
• Liquid at ordinary temperatures. Freezing near 2 °C, it avoids the melting and heated-storage problems that DIPA and TIPA bring.

How MIPA is Manufactured

Monoisopropanolamine is made by reacting propylene oxide with ammonia. As with the ethanolamines, all three isopropanolamines form together and the reactant ratio decides the distribution.

• Propoxylation of ammonia. Aqueous ammonia is reacted with propylene oxide at modest temperature and pressure. The reaction is exothermic and does not stop at the mono product — the isopropanolamine formed competes with ammonia for the next molecule of propylene oxide.
• Ratio control. A large excess of ammonia favours the mono product. Plants running for MIPA use a high ammonia ratio and recycle the ammonia, which is the energy-intensive part of the process.
• Regiochemistry. Propylene oxide opens preferentially at the less hindered carbon, which places the amine on the terminal carbon and the hydroxyl on the middle one. A small proportion of the opposite isomer forms, and it appears on a detailed certificate.
• Separation. Ammonia is stripped and recycled, water removed, and the three isopropanolamines separated by vacuum distillation — vacuum because they discolour at the temperatures atmospheric distillation would need.

Typical Commercial Specification

Figures below are representative of standard commercial grade. Metalworking and low-colour grades with tighter limits are available — send us the specification you work to and we will quote against it.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Reactivity in practice

A fully reactive primary amine and a slower secondary hydroxyl. That asymmetry is what formulators exploit:

• Salt formation. Neutralises fatty acids to give low-foaming soaps, and acidic herbicides to give water-soluble amine salts for sprayable concentrates.
• Amidation. Reacts with fatty acids at the nitrogen to give isopropanolamides used as emulsifiers and coupling agents.
• Metal complexation and inhibition. The amine-alcohol pair chelates metal ions and adsorbs at metal surfaces, which underlies its corrosion inhibition in water-based fluids.
• Acid gas uptake. As a primary amine it forms a carbamate with carbon dioxide and takes up hydrogen sulphide, though it is used far less in bulk gas treating than MEA.

MIPA vs DIPA, TIPA and the Ethanolamines

The isopropanolamines are the propylene oxide counterparts of the ethanolamines, and the comparison that matters most to a buyer runs across that divide rather than within the family. Swapping ethylene oxide for propylene oxide adds a methyl group to each arm, which makes the molecule bulkier, more oil-compatible, less prone to foaming — and turns the secondary hydroxyl into a slower, more selective reaction partner.

Stated plainly: the extra methyl group on each arm makes the isopropanolamines less foaming and more oil-tolerant than the ethanolamines, which is why metalworking fluid formulators favour MIPA over MEA. In cement, TIPA and TEA do genuinely different jobs — TEA improves grinding efficiency and early strength, TIPA improves late strength by complexing the iron phases — which is why commercial grinding aid packages routinely contain both rather than choosing one. They are complements more often than substitutes.

Industries We Supply MIPA To

The same molecule leaves our warehouse for very different factories. What changes between them is not the CAS number but the grade — DIPA content and colour in particular — and the documentation each sector expects.

Where MIPA is Used

MIPA has steadily taken share from MEA in several formulating markets, for reasons that come down to that one extra methyl group. These are the end uses our customers buy it for.

In metalworking fluids

This is where MIPA's advantage over MEA is clearest. A water-based cutting or grinding fluid recirculates continuously through pumps, nozzles and returns, and foam is a constant operational nuisance — it reduces cooling at the tool, overflows sumps and carries fluid out of the system. MIPA foams noticeably less than MEA because the methyl group disrupts the surface packing that stabilises foam, and it tolerates higher oil loadings in the emulsion. Separately, as a primary amine it does not carry the nitrosamine liability that drove this industry away from diethanolamine — provided DIPA carry-over is controlled.

In cement grinding aids

Grinding aid packages combine several alkanolamines, and MIPA appears in many of them. The mechanism is the same as for the other members: adsorption onto fresh fracture surfaces during milling prevents agglomeration and coating of the grinding media, improving throughput for the same energy input. Dosage is very low, so consistency between deliveries matters considerably more than absolute purity.

In agrochemical formulation

Several herbicide actives are acids with poor water solubility that have to be neutralised before they can be sprayed. MIPA forms stable, highly soluble salts with them and appears in commercial concentrate formulations. The chemistry is straightforward neutralisation, so what matters on the certificate is assay, water content and colour.

In waterborne coatings

Acid-functional acrylic and alkyd resins are neutralised with an amine to make them water-dispersible. The choice of amine affects foam during let-down and application, film formation, and whether the amine remains in the dried film. MIPA's lower foaming is a practical advantage in high-speed application, and its low volatility means it stays in the film rather than flashing off — which is wanted in some systems and not in others.

Quality Control & Testing

Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis. The methods behind the numbers are standard across the industry, and we are happy to share them or to work to your own in-house test protocol.

• Assay and isopropanolamine distribution — gas chromatography, quantifying DIPA and TIPA carry-over alongside the main component.
• Colour — APHA / Hazen against a standard. The alkanolamines darken on air contact, so colour on receipt reflects storage history as much as manufacture.
• Water content — Karl Fischer titration. MIPA is hygroscopic and drifts once a container is opened.
• Amine value — titration, the figure most formulators actually charge against.
• Iron and chloride — relevant in metalworking fluids and anywhere metal staining or corrosion matters.
• Specific gravity and freezing point — quick practical checks correlating with water and cross-contamination.

Common Process Problems & Likely Causes

When MIPA misbehaves in a plant, the cause is usually one of a short list of things. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.

Packaging, Storage & Shipping

• Standard packing. 200 kg net in lined steel or HDPE drums, with 1000 L IBCs for larger users.
• Bulk packing. Road tankers and ISO tank containers for metalworking fluid and cement additive producers.
• Cold weather. The freezing point is near 2 °C, so material can become slushy in hard winter conditions. Warm gently and homogenise — far less of a handling problem than DIPA or TIPA present.
• Storage. Cool, dry, well-ventilated and bunded, with containers tightly closed and protected from air and moisture.
• Materials of construction. Stainless steel or suitable lined vessels. Carbon steel is used in some service but corrodes more readily when the amine is hot or loaded with acid gas. Avoid copper, brass, bronze and aluminium.
• Oxygen exclusion. The ethanolamines oxidise and darken on air contact, particularly when warm. Nitrogen blanketing is standard for colour-sensitive grades and for any heated storage.
• Shelf life. Typically 12 months in unopened original packing under those conditions. Beyond that, re-test rather than assume.
• Transport classification. Typically UN 2735, Amines, liquid, corrosive, n.o.s., Class 8. Confirm the entry and packing group against the current SDS and the shipper's declaration for your destination and mode.

Hazards & Safe Handling

Monoisopropanolamine is corrosive and must be handled by trained personnel under a proper risk assessment. The classifications below are indicative — the current SDS supplied with your consignment is the governing document.

• Exposure control. Handle under local exhaust ventilation or in a closed system. Vapour pressure is low at ambient, so skin and eye contact dominate — except where the material is heated or sprayed.
• PPE. Chemical-resistant gloves, chemical goggles and face shield, chemical-resistant clothing. Splash protection is the priority.
• Mist exposure in fluid service. In metalworking, the finished fluid is atomised at the tool and operators are exposed to mist. That exposure is governed by the fluid formulation and the machine enclosure rather than by the neat amine, and should be assessed in its own right.
• Incompatibilities. Strong oxidising agents, strong acids, acid chlorides, and copper, brass, bronze and aluminium equipment.
• Spill response. Contain, absorb with inert non-combustible material and collect in a labelled closed container. Ventilate. Do not wash to drain.
• Environment. Harmful to aquatic life. Do not allow to enter drains, surface water or groundwater. Dispose through a licensed chemical waste contractor.
• Fire. Combustible. Use alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide; cool exposed containers with water spray. Decomposition releases nitrogen oxides — use self-contained breathing apparatus.
• First aid. Remove contaminated clothing immediately, wash skin with plenty of water, flush eyes for at least 15 minutes, and seek medical attention with the SDS to hand.

Regulatory & Compliance Notes

Monoisopropanolamine is an established industrial chemical and is listed on the major national chemical inventories. Because obligations differ by territory, volume and use, the notes below are orientation rather than legal advice — confirm your own position with your regulatory adviser before importing.

• Inventory status. Listed on the principal chemical inventories in the major importing regions. Ask us for the inventory confirmation relevant to your destination country.
• Import registration. Several territories require the importer to hold a registration or notification before a consignment lands. Start that process early — it is the most common cause of delay at destination.
• Hazard communication. Supplied with an SDS compliant with the format applicable to your region, and labelled in line with the GHS classification for the product.
• Metalworking fluid regulation. Metalworking fluids are subject to specific occupational and formulation rules in several jurisdictions, including on biocides and on nitrosatable amines. MIPA as a primary amine is generally favourable on the second point, provided DIPA carry-over is controlled.
• Cosmetic use. Alkanolamine use in cosmetics is subject to concentration limits and conditions in several territories. Confirm the position for the specific alkanolamine and product category at destination.
• Dangerous goods. Typically UN 2735, Amines, liquid, corrosive, n.o.s., Class 8. Confirm the entry and packing group against the current SDS; declarations prepared for IMDG (sea) or IATA (air) as appropriate.

We Supply MIPA Worldwide

Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Monoisopropanolamine (MIPA) from India to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America, handling the export documentation, dangerous-goods paperwork and freight so the material arrives ready to use.

• Incoterms. EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and DAP quoted to suit your purchasing terms and freight arrangements.
• Ports. Regular shipments through Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with other Indian ports arranged where it suits the routing.
• Documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, COA, SDS and dangerous-goods declaration issued as a complete set.
• Flexible volumes. A single drum for laboratory qualification, through LCL consolidations, up to repeat full loads on a supply contract.
• Supply continuity. Because we are independent of any one producer, a plant turnaround or a shipping disruption at one source does not have to become your stock-out.

Buying MIPA from Chelora

We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For MIPA that means understanding why you chose it over MEA — foam, oil tolerance or the nitrosamine question — because the answer determines which specification lines actually need controlling.

• Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA, current SDS and TDS issued with the consignment, not weeks afterward.
• Samples before commitment. Trial quantities for formulation qualification ahead of a commercial order.
• Quantities. From a single 200 kg drum through to repeat tank loads on contract supply.
• Export experience. Class 8 dangerous-goods documentation, packing and labelling handled for sea and road freight.
• Technical support. Direct access to people who know the chemistry, for questions on foam behaviour, DIPA limits or amine value.
• Related intermediates. DIPA, TIPA, MEA, TEA and the wider alkanolamine range from one supplier.

How ordering works

• Send the enquiry. Product, grade or specification, quantity, destination port and the Incoterm you buy on. If you have a spec sheet, attach it — it saves a round trip.
• We quote. Price, lead time, packing and a sample COA, normally within one working day.
• Sample and qualify. For first orders or critical applications, we send a trial quantity so your lab can sign off before you commit.
• Confirm the order. Proforma invoice issued; payment terms agreed against the volume and the relationship.
• Production and QC. Material allocated and released against a batch-specific COA, with a pre-shipment sample where the application calls for it.
• Ship and document. Packed, labelled and loaded with the full export and dangerous-goods document set, and tracked through to arrival.

Related Alkanolamines & Intermediates

Buyers of MIPA usually source several of these alongside it. Consolidating them on one order cuts freight cost and gives you a single point of contact for documentation.