Oleylamine
The C18 unsaturated fatty amine supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a liquid fatty amine used as a flotation collector, asphalt emulsifier and widely as a surfactant/solvent in nanomaterial synthesis — exported from Indonesia as a liquid in drums or ISO tanks with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Oleylamine is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as the liquid member of the fatty-amine family, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Oleylamine is a straight-chain, eighteen-carbon (C18) primary fatty amine carrying a single cis double bond at the 9,10 position — the same unsaturation pattern as oleic acid, from which it is derived. That mid-chain kink prevents the tight packing seen in fully saturated fatty amines, which is why oleylamine stays liquid at room temperature while its saturated C18 relative, octadecylamine, is a waxy solid.
At room temperature it is a pale yellow to amber liquid with a mild fatty odour, essentially insoluble in water but fully miscible with hydrocarbons, esters and most non-polar to mildly polar organic solvents. Its combination of a reactive amine head, a long hydrocarbon tail, and a built-in unsaturation site gives it a distinctive surfactant and coordinating-ligand behaviour not shared by saturated fatty amines.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Oleylamine is used industrially as a flotation collector and corrosion inhibitor and as an asphalt emulsifier, much like its saturated relatives, but it is distinguished by its very widespread use in research and specialty manufacturing as a surfactant, capping agent, reducing agent and reaction solvent in the synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles, where its liquid state and coordinating amine group are directly useful.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Oleylamine in technical grade (≈80–90% assay, standard distilled fatty-amine cut) for flotation, corrosion-inhibitor and asphalt-additive use, and high-purity grade (95%+) for surfactant and specialty-synthesis applications sensitive to colour and chain-purity. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Oleylamine 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.
Oleylamine is manufactured from oleic acid, the dominant monounsaturated fatty acid recovered from vegetable oils (such as sunflower or palm olein) or animal tallow. Oleic acid is first reacted with ammonia (ammoniation) and dehydrated to give oleonitrile (cis-9-octadecenenitrile), which is then selectively hydrogenated over a nickel-based catalyst under conditions chosen to reduce only the nitrile group while preserving the mid-chain C9–C10 double bond, with ammonia present to favour the primary amine: oleic acid → oleonitrile → oleylamine.
Why selective nitrile hydrogenation is the standard route
Oleic acid is produced at large scale as an oleochemical feedstock from widely available vegetable oils and tallow, and selective hydrogenation — reducing the reactive nitrile group while leaving the less reactive internal double bond untouched — is a well-controlled, catalyst-dependent process that is standard across the oleochemical amine industry.
Industries and processes that use it
Oleylamine is consumed across mineral flotation, asphalt and corrosion-inhibitor formulation, and — distinctively among fatty amines — specialty nanomaterial synthesis, where its liquid state and coordinating amine group are the main draw. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Mineral Flotation & Corrosion Inhibitor
Used as a liquid cationic collector in ore flotation and as a filming corrosion inhibitor in oilfield and pipeline applications.
Asphalt Emulsifier
Used to emulsify bitumen for cold-applied asphalt products and to improve aggregate adhesion in paving mixes.
Nanomaterial Synthesis Surfactant
Widely used in research and specialty manufacturing as a capping agent, reducing agent and high-boiling reaction solvent for metal and semiconductor nanoparticle synthesis.
Surfactant & Formulation Intermediate
A building block for liquid cationic surfactants and emulsifiers used across agrochemical and specialty-formulation chemistry.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The single reactive primary amine head, the long unsaturated tail and the coordinating lone pair on nitrogen together govern almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Oleylamine is converted into a finished product or intermediate.
Metal Coordination (Nanoparticle Capping)
The amine nitrogen coordinates directly to metal centres and nanoparticle surfaces, controlling nucleation and growth in colloidal nanomaterial synthesis.
Salt/Emulsion Formation
Protonation with acetic or other acids converts the free amine into a water-dispersible salt used in flotation and asphalt-emulsifier formulations.
Ethoxylation
Reacts with ethylene oxide to build nonionic/cationic ethoxylated surfactants with tailored water solubility.
Amide/Imidazoline Formation
Condenses with fatty acids to build amide and imidazoline surfactants used in corrosion-inhibitor and specialty formulation chemistry.
Oleylamine against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Oleylamine for flotation, formulation or specialty synthesis often need a related fatty amine with a saturated or shorter chain. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oleylamine | 112-90-3 | C18 unsaturated fatty amine | The product on this page — the liquid member of the fatty-amine family. |
| Octadecylamine (Stearylamine) | 124-30-1 | C18 saturated fatty amine | The saturated C18 relative, a solid used in boiler corrosion control — see its product page. |
| Dodecylamine (Laurylamine) | 124-22-1 | C12 saturated fatty amine | A related, shorter-chain fatty amine used in mineral flotation — see its product page. |
| Hexamethylenediamine | 124-09-4 | Six-carbon diamine | A related aliphatic diamine and the nylon 66 co-monomer — 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 Oleylamine.
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.
Harmful if swallowed.
Harmful in contact with skin.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Impervious gloves, chemical splash goggles or a face shield, and suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
For nanomaterial-synthesis use, handle under inert atmosphere to limit oxidation of the double bond and colour development.
Avoid any discharge to drains or waterways given its aquatic toxicity classification.
Danger — GHS05 corrosive and GHS09 environmental pictograms apply.
This compound causes severe skin burns and eye damage, is harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin, and is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. It must be handled with impervious gloves, splash-proof eye protection and suitable respiratory protection at all times, and must never be allowed to reach drains or waterways. 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 area away from strong oxidizing agents, strong acids and direct light, in tightly closed original packaging, ideally under a nitrogen blanket for extended storage to limit oxidation of the double bond. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check amine value, colour and iodine value 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 Oleylamine 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 Oleylamine 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 Oleylamine used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Oleylamine?+
03How is Oleylamine made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Oleylamine hazardous?+
06Why is Oleylamine liquid when octadecylamine is a solid?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply other fatty amines as well?+
Need Oleylamine on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.