Patent AT-E400546-T1: [Translated] METHOD FOR PRODUCING TRIETHANOLAMINE

Methods for improving color properties of triethanolamine, and triethanolamine compositions treated thereby, are disclosed, wherein the methods comprise: (a) providing a composition comprising triethanolamine; and (b) contacting the composition with an acid component and a basic component; wherein the acid component comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of phosphorous acid, hypophosphorous acid and mixtures thereof; and wherein the basic component comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxides according to general formula (I), and mixtures thereof: <?in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"?>[R1R2R3(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium] hydroxide (I)<?in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"?> wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently represents a C1-30 alkyl or a C2-10 hydroxyalkyl; with the proviso that where the basic component comprises an alkali metal hydroxide, the molar ratio of acid component: basic component is 1:0.1 to 1:1, and where the basic component comprises an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, the molar ratio of acid component: basic component is 1:0.05 to 1:0.5.