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The three amine groups in diethylenetriamine (DETA) make it water-soluble and basic enough to extract acids from gases and hydrocarbon mixtures. Like most organic amines, it has an ammonia-like odor. Its profound toxicity is illustrated by all the category 1 ratings shown in the hazard information table.
The three nitrogen atoms make DETA an excellent complexing agent for metals such as cobalt, copper, and platinum. Some DETA-based metal complexes can be used to catalyze organic reactions; examples are the oxidation of phenol with hydrogen peroxide and Heck cross-coupling reactions.
Recently, Julien Leclaire at the University of Lyon (France) and colleagues there and at the University of Turin (Italy) showed that the cost of carbon dioxide capture with DETA can be offset by another environmentally beneficial process. The chemists devised a way to by adding DETA to the aqueous solutions, then bubbling CO2 through the mixture. A series of ligand exchange reactions results in the formation of an insoluble carbonate of the target metal.
The authors demonstrated their technique by removing lanthanum as La2(CO3)3 from a La鈥揘i mixture and by separating the solubilized metals from a La鈥揅o鈥揘i battery anode alloy into the individual components with 97% or greater purity. Their aim is to collaborate with metal recyclers to develop and commercialize their technology.
顿颈别迟丑测濒别苍别迟谤颈补尘颈苍别听hazard information
Hazard class* | Hazard statement | |
---|---|---|
Acute toxicity, oral, category 4 | H302鈥擧armful if swallowed | ![]() |
Acute toxicity, dermal, category 4 | H312鈥擧armful in contact with skin | ![]() |
Skin corrosion/irritation, category 1B | H314鈥擟auses severe skin burns and eye damage | ![]() |
Skin sensitization, category 1 | H317鈥擬ay cause an allergic skin reaction | ![]() |
Serious eye damage, category 1 | H318鈥擟auses serious eye damage聽 | ![]() |
Acute toxicity, inhalation, category 1 | H330鈥擣atal if inhaled | ![]() |
Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure, respiratory tract irritation, category 1 | H335鈥擬ay cause respiratory irritation | ![]() |
聽*Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
顿颈别迟丑测濒别苍别迟谤颈补尘颈苍别听
fast facts
CAS Reg. No. | 111-40-0 |
nomenclature | 1,2-Ethanediamine, N-(2-aminoethyl)- |
Empirical formula | C4H13N3 |
Molar mass | 103.17 g/mol |
Appearance | Colorless to yellow liquid |
Boiling point | 207 潞C |
Water solubility | Miscible |

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