Abstract: A process for producing an alkanolamine includes supplying a reactive distillation apparatus having an inner contacting surface which simultaneously facilitates a reaction process and a distillation process, feeding a first reactant including an amine represented by R?3-XNHX, wherein R? is a hydrocarbon group, and X is 1, 2, or 3, feeding a second reactant including an akylene oxide represented by R?O, wherein R? is a C2-C10-alkylene, feeding a catalyst in an amount from 0% to about 15% by weight of a mixture of the first reactant, the second reactant and the catalyst; recycling an overhead output from an overhead portion including an unreacted portion of the amine and the catalyst to achieve a substantially total reflux of the amine and the catalyst, and collecting a product output including an alkanolamine, the alkanolamine being a member selected from the group consisting of a monoalkanolamine, a dialkanolamine, and a trialkanolamine.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkanolamine includes supplying a reactive distillation apparatus having an inner contacting surface which simultaneously facilitates a reaction process and a distillation process, feeding a first reactant including an amine represented by R′3-XNHX, wherein R′ is a hydrocarbon group, and X is 1, 2, or 3, feeding a second reactant including an akylene oxide represented by R″O, wherein R″ is a C2-C10-alkylene, feeding a catalyst in an amount from 0% to about 15% by weight of a mixture of the first reactant, the second reactant and the catalyst; recycling an overhead output from an overhead portion including an unreacted portion of the amine and the catalyst to achieve a substantially total reflux of the amine and the catalyst, and collecting a product output including an alkanolamine, the alkanolamine being a member selected from the group consisting of a monoalkanolamine, a dialkanolamine, and a trialkanolamine.