Fatty amines

Fatty amines are amines that are derived from the respective fatty acid anchored in the name. Fatty amines are long-chain aliphatic amines with a carbon chain containing at least 8 carbon atoms (see table).

The name of the respective fatty amine is usually derived from the fat (oil) used for its production, e.g. coconut amine (coconut fatty amine from coconut fatty acids), soya amine (soya amine, soya fatty amine from soya fatty acid), rapeseed oil amine (from rapeseed oil fatty acids), tallow amine (tallow fatty amine from fatty acids from animal fats) etc. These products are mixtures of different fatty amines.
The technical synthesis of a fatty amine takes place mainly by reaction of the respective fatty acid with ammonia. The corresponding fatty acid nitrile is formed: R-COOH + NH3 = R-C≡N + 2 H2O. The fatty acid nitrile formed is catalytically hydrogenated in a second step to form a fatty amine: R-C≡N + 2 H2 = R-CH2-NH2 (fatty amine).

Fatty amines are widely used in technical areas, but also in cosmetics and household (laundry). They are used as anti-caking agents in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products (anti-agglomeration agents), corrosion protection for metals, surfactants, textile auxiliaries, fabric softeners (laundry), cosmetics, etc.