CEH Report

Table of Contents

Abstract

Isopropanolamines include monoisopropanolamine (MIPA), diisopropanolamine (DIPA) and triisopropanolamine (TIPA). Isopropanolamines are used in a wide array of applications, including gas purification, personal care products, cosmetic formulations, corrosion inhibitors, and metalworking fluids, and are used as emulsifiers, dispersants and wetting agents.

Isopropanolamines are produced primarily in China, the United States and Western Europe. China is now the major producing country and will continue to be so through 2015. Asia is the major consuming region for isopropanolamines, where TIPA finds growing use in cement applications.

The following pie chart shows world consumption of isopropanolamines:

In Western Europe, consumption of isopropanolamines is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.0–2.5%. In Asia, consumption is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 5–6%, driven by the increasing use of TIPA for cement applications. This region, especially China, is investing in a great deal of infrastructure—a large consuming application for cement. Consumption in the United States is fairly mature and will grow at an average rate of 1.5–2.0% per year through 2015. Overall, global consumption of isopropanolamines will grow at an average rate of 3.5–4.0% per year during 2010–2015.