Aminoethylpiperazine (AEP) is a derivative of

piperazine Piperazine () is an organic compound with the formula . In term of its structure, it can be described as cyclohexane with the 1- and 4-CH2 groups replaced by NH. Piperazine exists as deliquescent solid with a saline taste. Piperazine is freely sol ...

. This ethyleneamine contains three nitrogen atoms; one primary, one secondary and one tertiary. It is a corrosive organic liquid and can cause second or third degree burns. Aminoethylpiperazine can also cause

pulmonary edema Pulmonary edema (British English: oedema), also known as pulmonary congestion, is excessive fluid accumulation in the tissue or air spaces (usually alveoli) of the lungs. This leads to impaired gas exchange, most often leading to shortness ...

as a result of inhalation. It is REACH and TSCA registered.

Production

Ethylene dichloride is reacted with ammonia as a main method of production. This process produces various ethylene amines which can then be purified by distillation. These include

ethylenediamine Ethylenediamine (abbreviated as en when a ligand) is the organic compound with the formula C2H4(NH2)2. This colorless liquid with an ammonia-like odor is a basic amine. It is a widely used building block in chemical synthesis, with approximately ...

diethylenetriamine Diethylenetriamine (abbreviated and also known as 2,2’-Iminodi(ethylamine)) is an organic compound with the formula HN(CH2CH2NH2)2. This colourless hygroscopic liquid is soluble in water and polar organic solvents, but not simple hydrocarbons. ...

triethylenetetramine Triethylenetetramine (TETA and trien), also known as trientine ( INN) when used medically, is an organic compound with the formula H2NHCH2CH2NH2sub>2. The pure free base is a colorless oily liquid, but, like many amines, older samples assume a y ...

tetraethylenepentamine Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) is an organic compound and is in the class of chemicals known as ethyleneamines. It is a slightly viscous liquid and is not colorless but, like many amines, has a yellow color. It is soluble in most polar solvents. D ...

, other higher homologues and aminoethyl piperazine. AEP is also manufactured by reacting ethylenediamine or

ethanolamine Ethanolamine (2-aminoethanol, monoethanolamine, ETA, or MEA) is a naturally occurring organic chemical compound with the formula or . The molecule is bifunctional, containing both a primary amine and a primary alcohol. Ethanolamine is a colorl ...

ammonia Ammonia is an inorganic chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the chemical formula, formula . A Binary compounds of hydrogen, stable binary hydride and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinctive pu ...

mixtures over a

catalyst Catalysis () is the increase in rate of a chemical reaction due to an added substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed by the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recycles quick ...

Epoxy resin curing agent

A key use of AEP is as an

epoxy Epoxy is the family of basic components or Curing (chemistry), cured end products of epoxy Resin, resins. Epoxy resins, also known as polyepoxides, are a class of reactive prepolymers and polymers which contain epoxide groups. The epoxide fun ...

curing agent. When used as an epoxy resin curing agent, it is usually used in conjunction with other amines as an accelerator as it only has 3 amine hydrogens for cross-linking. The tertiary amine on the molecule acts as an accelerator and the other three amine hydrogens allow sites for crosslinking the epoxy. This then allows coating systems to be formulated that prevent

corrosion Corrosion is a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable oxide. It is the gradual deterioration of materials (usually a metal) by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engine ...

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

and other substrates. Novolac resins may also be cured by this material and blends.

Other uses

Uses include inhibition of

, surface activation, and as an

asphalt Asphalt most often refers to: * Bitumen, also known as "liquid asphalt cement" or simply "asphalt", a viscous form of petroleum mainly used as a binder in asphalt concrete * Asphalt concrete, a mixture of bitumen with coarse and fine aggregates, u ...

additive. As AEP is alkaline and

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at norma ...

is weakly acidic, it has been researched as a carbon dioxide sequestrant. This is part of ongoing research in

Carbon capture and storage Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a process by which carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial installations is separated before it is released into the atmosphere, then transported to a long-term storage location.IPCC, 2021Annex VII: Glossary at ...

Toxicology

The toxicology has been extensively studied and is well understood.

References

External links

Catalytic method for the conjoint manufacture of N-aminoethylpiperazineSafety data sheetData sheet
{{Piperazines 1-Piperazinyl compounds Aminoethyl compounds