© 2026 Sinochem Nanjing Corporation,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: Triethylenetetramine
Other Names: TETA, Trientine, 1,4,7,10-Tetraazadecane
Chemical Formula: C6H18N4
Structure: Two ethylene diamine units linked by an ethylene bridge
Appearance: Pale yellow to amber liquid
Odor: Ammonia-like, sharp
Uses: Epoxy curing agent, chelating agent in pharmaceuticals, and water treatment
Molecular Weight: 146.24 g/mol
Main Risks: Severe burns to skin and eyes, respiratory irritation, allergic skin reactions
GHS Classification: Corrosive—causes serious damage to tissues
Health Effects: Direct contact leads to pain, redness, and blistering; inhaling vapors leads to coughing and throat pain
Chronic Risks: Prolonged exposure triggers skin sensitization or breathing troubles
Fire Hazard: Not highly flammable, but combustion emits toxic nitrogen oxides
Environmental Hazard: Harmful to aquatic life, triggers longer-term ecosystem issues
Main Component: Triethylenetetramine (approx. 98% or higher)
Impurities: May include lower aliphatic amines and water
Physical Form: Liquid, miscible in water and alcohols
Inhalation: Take the exposed person to fresh air, watch for symptoms, seek medical help if trouble breathing persists
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with water for many minutes, peel off contaminated clothing, get medical care for continued irritation
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes immediately with plenty of running water, hold eyelids apart, and call a doctor
Ingestion: Rinse mouth without inducing vomiting, get medical advice quickly, have packaging ready for reference where possible
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide
Combustion Byproducts: Toxic gases like nitrogen oxides and ammonia
Protective Equipment: Firefighters wear self-contained breathing apparatus, chemical-resistant clothing
Tips Based on Practice: Always aim to cool tanks from a distance, avoid contaminated runoff entering drains or waterways
Personal Precautions: Avoid breathing vapors, open windows, wear gloves and goggles
Environmental Precautions: Stop the source if safe to do so, prevent liquid from entering drains, use materials like sand to contain spill
Clean-up Methods: Soak up with inert absorbents, shovel into clearly labeled containers, ventilate spill area well
Handling: Wear splash-proof goggles and gloves, keep ventilation good, steer clear of eating or drinking nearby
Storage: Store in original, tightly closed containers, keep cool and dry, avoid storing near acids or oxidizing agents
Personal Advice: Setting up clear separation for chemical products in the cabinet cuts down the risk of dangerous mix-ups
Control Measures: Use fume hoods or well-ventilated places, keep exposure below recommended workplace limits
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, face shields, long-sleeve lab coats
Respiratory Protection: Respirators with approved cartridges come in handy for high vapor concentrations
Hygiene: Washing hands after use and changing out of contaminated clothing stops skin irritation before it starts
Physical State: Oily liquid
Color: Pale yellow to amber
Odor: Strong, fishy ammonia note
Density: About 0.98 g/cm³
Boiling Point: Around 277°C
Melting Point: Not readily available, stays liquid at room temperature
Solubility: Fully mixes with water and alcohols
Vapor Pressure: Low
pH: Strongly alkaline in solution
Chemical Stability: Stable in sealed containers kept away from heat sources
Reactivity: Reacts violently with acids to form heat and toxic fumes
Incompatibles: Strong acids, oxidizers, acid chlorides
Hazardous Products: Decomposes to toxic nitrogen oxides during fire or strong reaction
Likely Routes of Exposure: Skin contact, inhalation, accidental ingestion
Short-Term Effects: Burns, swelling, pain where the chemical touches, sore throat or cough
Long-Term Health Effects: Possible liver or kidney impacts with repeated exposure, confirmed allergic reactions on the skin
Anecdotal Experience: Chemical burns from TETA feel much worse than kitchen grease burns; longer recovery and a bigger scar
Sensitization: Many workers report skin sensitivity after repeated handling despite gloves, underlining the need for protection
Environmental Fate: Breaks down slowly in soil and water, migrates easily in surface water
Risks to Wildlife: Toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates at moderate concentrations
Bioaccumulation: Does not tend to build up in living tissue, but affects reproduction in sensitive organisms
Waterways Tip: Regular monitoring for amines like TETA near chemical sites protects river life
Recommended Methods: Collect in sealed drums, hand off to licensed chemical disposal contractor
Drain Disposal: Should not go into drains or waterways
Treatment: Incineration with proper equipment prevents toxic releases
Personal Note: Working in labs, every drop of waste collected and tracked responsibly; a spill in the sink once led to hours of emergency checks—lesson learned about vigilance
UN Number: 2259 (classified as a corrosive liquid for shipping)
Transport Hazards: Strong corrosive risk for skin, eyes, and mucous membranes
Packing Group: II (medium danger)
Handling Advice: Drums and containers need careful stacking; leaks during loading can cause severe injury without fast response—wear face and hand protection anytime you move these materials
Usage Limits: Subject to workplace exposure limits in most developed countries
Labeling: Mandatory hazard symbols—corrosive, environment hazard—are required
Worker Protections: Safety training and protective gear policies fall under labor and chemical safety laws
My Experience: Training saves accidents; learning to read international chemical labels meant understanding that governments set these rules after real injury cases, not just for red tape’s sake
