Diethylhydroxylamine Explained

Diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA) is an organic compound with the formula (C₂H₅)₂NOH. Strictly, this is N,N-diethylhydroxylamine. It has an isomer, N,O-diethylhydroxylamine with the formula EtNHOEt. Pure N,N-diethylhydroxylamine is a colorless liquid, although it is usually encountered as a colourless-to-yellow solution in water with an amine-like odor.

DEHA can be synthesised from a reaction between triethylamine and a peroxide.

Applications

DEHA is largely used as an oxygen scavenger in water treatment.

It is a volatile oxygen scavenger^{[1] [2]} and reacts in a ratio of 2.8/1 DEHA/O2. It is employed in high pressure (>70 bar) boiler systems due to a very low rate of reaction at low temperatures and pressures. Due to its volatility, it acts as an oxygen scavenger throughout the entire boiler system due to steam carryover.

DEHA also reacts with ferrous metals to form a passivized film of magnetite throughout the boiler system. The reduction of toxic heavy metals, such as hexavalent chromium to their more environmentally-friendly counterparts like trivalent chromium, is also performed using aqueous solutions containing DEHA.

Several other applications include its use as:

1. Polymerisation inhibitor
2. Color stabilizer (photographics)
3. Corrosion inhibitor
4. Discoloration inhibitor (phenolics)
5. Antiozonant
6. Radical scavenger^[3]

Notes and References

1. Cáceres . T. . Lissi . E. A. . Sanhueza . E. . Autooxidation of diethyl hydroxylamine . International Journal of Chemical Kinetics . November 1978 . 10 . 11 . 1167–1182 . 10.1002/kin.550101107.
2. Shaffer . Dean . Heicklen . Julian . Oxidation of diethylhydroxylamine in water solution at 25-80.degree. . The Journal of Physical Chemistry . August 1986 . 90 . 18 . 4408–4413 . 10.1021/j100409a039.
3. Abuin . E. . Encina . M. V. . Diaz . S. . Lissi . E. A. . On the reactivity of diethyl hydroxyl amine toward free radicals . International Journal of Chemical Kinetics . July 1978 . 10 . 7 . 677–686 . 10.1002/kin.550100704.