Ethanolamine (CAS 141-43-5): storage and disposal
Ethanolamine is a viscous, alkaline amine liquid, kept neat in college, university and pathology stores. It is classified as harmful by swallowing, skin contact and inhalation and causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Its mix of amine and alcohol behaviour means it must be kept away from both acids and hypochlorite products.
- CAS number
- 141-43-5
- Form
- Liquid
- Storage class
- Alkali
- Signal word
- Danger
- Usual EWC code
- 16 05 06*
Corrosive
Harmful or irritant
What to do this week
- Check the label is readable and write down the opened date if it is not already there.
- Check it is stored as alkali stock and apart from the items listed under "Do not store with".
- If you no longer need it, add it to your disposal list so it goes on the next collection.
Safe storage in a school or lab
Acids and hypochlorites are what ethanolamine needs separating from. As an alkali it sits low down on a resistant tray in a corrosive store, away from acids, because the two react with strong heat and spattering. Calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, chloramine T and sodium dichloroisocyanurate form chloramine gases with amines, and nitromethane becomes sensitive to detonation in their presence. Oxidisers can also react strongly with alkalis. Keep the cap closed tightly, because the liquid draws moisture and carbon dioxide from the air. A pathology store should keep it on a different shelf from bleach based disinfectants, which often live in the next cupboard.
How to tell it has deteriorated
The liquid is thick, and in a cool store it can become cloudy or set partly solid, which is a physical change and not decay. Over time exposed ethanolamine turns yellow and then darker as it takes up air. A crust of white carbonate round the neck or a cap stuck to the thread shows that the stopper has been drawing in carbon dioxide. Check for attacked labels, a cracked container and a bottle sticky with residue. Because it causes severe burns, nobody should force a stuck cap. Record it and leave it where it is.
How it must be disposed of
By specialist collection only. It never goes down the drain or into general waste. It is normally packed in a corrosive alkali laboratory pack with compatible chemicals.
The waste code is the laboratory chemical entry, or the discarded organic chemical variant if it travels outside a lab pack, and the healthcare entry for a hospital holder. Write down whether the bottle is part used, the volume left and the cap condition. This alkaline amine should never be tipped into a sink or neutralised with acid, since that releases heat and spatters, and nobody should mix it with bleach products. The carrier packs it upright with compatible alkalis and keeps it from acids, hypochlorites and oxidisers.
| EWC code, laboratory chemicals | 16 05 06* |
|---|---|
| Discarded organic chemical, not a laboratory pack | 16 05 08* |
| Human healthcare setting | 18 01 06* |
| Hazardous waste | Yes |
The code depends on where the waste came from and what it is mixed with. Use the waste code finder to see why.
Do not store with
- AcidAcids and alkalis react with strong heat and spattering if they meet.
- OxidiserSome oxidisers react strongly with alkalis, and ammonia based stock is especially at risk.
Named chemicals to keep apart
- Acetic acidAcids and alkalis react with strong heat and spattering if they meet.
- Calcium hypochloriteHypochlorites and ammonia or amines form toxic chloramine gases.
- Chloramine THypochlorites and ammonia or amines form toxic chloramine gases.
- Hydrochloric acidAcids and alkalis react with strong heat and spattering if they meet.
- Hydrogen peroxideSome oxidisers react strongly with alkalis, and ammonia based stock is especially at risk.
- Nitric acidAcids and alkalis react with strong heat and spattering if they meet.
- NitromethaneAmines and alkalis sensitise nitromethane to detonation.
- Potassium nitrateSome oxidisers react strongly with alkalis, and ammonia based stock is especially at risk.
Show 4 more
- Potassium permanganateSome oxidisers react strongly with alkalis, and ammonia based stock is especially at risk.
- Sodium dichloroisocyanurateHypochlorites and ammonia or amines form toxic chloramine gases.
- Sodium hypochloriteHypochlorites and ammonia or amines form toxic chloramine gases.
- Sulfuric acidAcids and alkalis react with strong heat and spattering if they meet.
Common quantities we collect
Usually held as: neat.
Part-used bottles and full containers are both fine. Tell us the size and how many, and an estimate is enough for a first price.
Where it is commonly held
Hazard statements
- H302 Harmful if swallowed.
- H312 Harmful in contact with skin.
- H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- H332 Harmful if inhaled.
Precautionary statements
- P260 Do not breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
- P261 Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
- P264 Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling.
- P270 Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- P271 Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
- P301+P317 IF SWALLOWED: Get medical help.
- P301+P330+P331 IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting.
- P302+P352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water.
- P302+P361+P354 IF ON SKIN: Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Immediately rinse with water for several minutes.
- P304+P340 IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
- P305+P354+P338 IF IN EYES: Immediately rinse with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- P316 Get emergency medical help immediately.
- P317 Get medical help.
- P321 Specific treatment (see supplemental first aid instruction on this label).
- P330 Rinse mouth.
- P362+P364 Take off contaminated clothing. And wash it before reuse.
- P363 Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
- P405 Store locked up.
- P501 Dispose of contents and container in accordance with local, regional, national and international regulations.
Substance as classified, dilutions may differ.
Questions
Why has our ethanolamine gone cloudy in winter?
A viscous liquid like this can turn cloudy or partly set in a cold store. That is a physical change and not decay, but it still needs the usual burn-risk handling and should not be warmed or forced open.
Can ethanolamine sit near disinfectant stock in pathology?
No. Hypochlorite disinfectants form chloramine gases with amines, so keep them in separate cabinets and carry them separately. The same applies to calcium hypochlorite in a school or college store.
Is a stuck cap a sign the stock is bad?
It means carbonate crust has formed from air getting in. Do not force it. Note the cap condition, keep the bottle upright and ask for collection.
