Morpholine
The oxygen-containing saturated cyclic amine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a volatile neutralising amine for boiler and steam-system corrosion control, a rubber accelerator intermediate and an agrochemical and wax-emulsifier building block — exported from Indonesia as a liquid in drums or ISO tanks with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Morpholine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as a volatile neutralising amine, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Morpholine is a six-membered saturated ring with one oxygen and one secondary-amine nitrogen positioned opposite each other. The ring oxygen moderates the nitrogen's basicity compared with a purely carbon ring such as piperidine, giving morpholine a useful combination of volatility, water solubility and moderate basicity that is central to most of its industrial uses.
At room temperature it is a colourless, hygroscopic liquid with a characteristic ammonia-like amine odour, fully miscible with water and most organic solvents. Its relatively high vapour pressure and basicity are exactly why it is used as a volatile neutralising amine — it travels with steam and neutralises acidic condensate throughout a steam system rather than staying behind in the boiler.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Morpholine's largest industrial use is as a volatile, filming/neutralising amine for corrosion control in boiler feedwater, steam and condensate return systems across power generation and process industries. It is also a key intermediate for rubber vulcanisation accelerators (sulfenamide-type), for morpholine-based fungicides used in agrochemical formulations, and for wax and polish emulsifiers used in fruit coatings and floor finishes.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Morpholine in technical grade (≈99% assay) for boiler-water treatment and rubber-chemical manufacture, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for agrochemical and wax-emulsifier applications sensitive to colour and odour. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Morpholine is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Morpholine is manufactured industrially by the acid-catalysed cyclodehydration of diethanolamine (DEA): under heat and with a mineral acid or solid acid catalyst, the two hydroxyl-terminated arms of diethanolamine close to form the six-membered ring with loss of water: HN(CH₂CH₂OH)₂ → morpholine + H₂O. An alternative route reacts diethylene glycol (or bis(2-chloroethyl) ether) with ammonia under pressure over an amination catalyst.
Why diethanolamine cyclodehydration is standard
Diethanolamine is produced at large scale from ethylene oxide and ammonia for other downstream uses, making its acid-catalysed cyclisation to morpholine a well-established, cost-effective route that is tightly integrated at major ethanolamine and ethyleneamine producers.
Industries and processes that use it
Morpholine is consumed overwhelmingly by boiler-water and steam-system corrosion treatment, with significant secondary demand from rubber-chemical and agrochemical manufacture. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Boiler & Steam-System Corrosion Inhibitor
Used as a volatile, filming/neutralising amine that travels with steam to protect condensate return lines from carbonic-acid corrosion.
Rubber Vulcanisation Accelerator Intermediate
Converted into morpholine-based sulfenamide accelerators (e.g. MBS) used widely in rubber compounding.
Agrochemical Intermediate
A building block for morpholine-based fungicides used in crop-protection formulations.
Wax & Polish Emulsifier
Forms morpholine soaps with fatty acids, used as emulsifiers in floor polishes and fruit and confectionery coating waxes.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The moderately basic ring nitrogen, tempered by the adjacent ring oxygen, governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Morpholine is converted into a finished product or intermediate.
Acid-Base Neutralisation
The ring nitrogen accepts a proton from carbonic or other weak acids in steam condensate, raising pH and halting corrosion without leaving a fixed residue in the boiler.
Sulfenamide Formation (Rubber Accelerators)
Reacts with a mercaptobenzothiazole derivative and an oxidant to form morpholine-based sulfenamide rubber accelerators.
Soap/Salt Formation
Neutralises fatty acids to form morpholine soaps, the basis of wax and polish emulsifier systems.
N-Acylation & N-Alkylation
The ring nitrogen reacts with acyl chlorides and alkyl halides, a route used in agrochemical and pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis.
Morpholine against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Morpholine for corrosion control or rubber-chemical manufacture often need a related cyclic amine. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morpholine | 110-91-8 | Oxygen-containing cyclic amine | The product on this page — a volatile neutralising amine and rubber-chemical intermediate. |
| N-Methylmorpholine | 109-02-4 | Tertiary cyclic amine | The N-methylated derivative, used as a catalyst and NMMO precursor — see its product page. |
| Piperidine | 110-89-4 | Saturated cyclic amine | A related all-carbon ring amine — see its product page. |
| Piperazine | 110-85-0 | Cyclic diamine | A related cyclic diamine with two ring nitrogens — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Morpholine.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Flammable liquid and vapour.
Harmful if swallowed.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Harmful if inhaled.
Impervious gloves, chemical splash goggles or a face shield, and suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame; ground and bond containers during transfer.
When dosed into boiler systems, use closed, metered injection equipment to limit operator vapour exposure.
Danger — GHS02 flammable and GHS05 corrosive pictograms apply.
This compound is a flammable liquid that causes severe skin burns and eye damage, and is harmful if swallowed or inhaled. It must be handled with impervious gloves, splash-proof eye protection, suitable respiratory protection and kept away from heat and open flame. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources, strong oxidizing agents and strong acids, in tightly closed original packaging. As the product is hygroscopic, minimise exposure to humid air during transfer. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay, colour and water content before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Morpholine leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade of Morpholine shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Morpholine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Morpholine?+
03How is Morpholine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Morpholine hazardous?+
06Why is morpholine used specifically for steam-system corrosion control?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply other cyclic amines as well?+
Need Morpholine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.