Triethanolamine

Absorption

Dermal absorption of trolamine increases with the dose . This has been found to range from 19-28% in rats with doses of 68-276 mg/kg in 190 μL of acetone without occlusion and from 60-80% in mice with doses of 79-1120 mg/kg in the same volume of acetone.

Toxicity

Trolamine produced mild erythema and edema in rabbits with dermally administered doses of 2 g/kg under occlusion . The oral LD50 was found to be 8 g/kg in guinea pigs and 4.19-11.26 g/kg in rats. Repeated oral administration in rats and guinea pigs produced hepatic and renal damage with deaths occurring in rats at doses >0.3 g/kg/day. When inhaled trolamine produced edema and inflammation in rats at doses over 100 mg/m3 after 5 days and at doses over 4.7 mg/m3 after 90 days. There is some evidence of carcinogenicity at high dermal doses (1000 mg/kg/day) in mice. Trolamine is not classified as a carcinogen in humans.

Description

Triethanolamine is a viscous, colourless/pale yellow liquid with a weak ammoniacal odour. Triethanolamine is incompatible with copper, copper alloys, galvanised iron, acids, and oxidisers. Reports indicate that in India itself, as many as six companies manufacture triethanolamine and it is manufactured by many different countries around the world. Global production and industrial application of triethanolamine is very extensive.

In industries, triethanolamine is used as a corrosion inhibitor in metal-cutting fluids; a curing agent for epoxy and rubber polymers; a copper–triethanolamine; in emulsifiers, thickeners, and wetting agents in the formulation of consumer products such as cosmetics, detergents, shampoos, and other personal products; and a neutraliser-dispersing agent in agricultural herbicide formulations. In brief, triethanolamine has wide applications as a corrosion inhibitor, a surface-active agent, and an intermediate in various products including metalworking fluids, oils, fuels, paints, inks, cement, cosmetic, and personal products and formulations of algicides and herbicides.

The Uses of Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine is used primarily as a surfactant, reducing the surface tension between two media. It is also used as a general emulsifier for preparations, such as ones involving drug penetration ass ays.

Background

Trolamine, which is also referred to as triethanolamine (TEA), is a tertiary amine and a triol. It is a bifunctional compound that exhibits both properties of alcohols and amines. Trolamine contains small amounts of diethanolamine and ethanolamine and may also act as an antioxidant against the auto-oxidation of animal and vegetable fats . It is commonly used as a pH adjuster and surfactant in industrial and cosmetic products such as skin and hair conditioning products.

Indications

Trolamine is used as an alkalizing agent, surfactant, and counter-ion in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations . It is not considered to be an active pharmacological ingredient and so has no official indication.

Pharmacokinetics

Acts as a surfactant or alkalizing agent to aid in emulsification and solubilizing of compounds or in raising the pH of a solution

Metabolism

Trolamine is excreted mostly as the unchanged compound . No diethanolamine or ethanolamine has been found. Very small amounts of trolamine glucuronide have been detected but not quantified.