| abstract |
The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a cyclic urea adduct of an ethyleneamine compound, the ethyleneamine compound being selected from the group of ethyleneamines and hydroxyethylethyleneamines and comprising at least one –NH-CH2-CH2-NH-moiety and at least two ethylene moieties, wherein the ethyleneamine compound is reacted with CO2 in the presence of an auxiliary compound selected from ethylenediamine (EDA), monoethanolamine (MEA) and mixtures thereof, the molar ratio of auxiliary compound to amine compound being at least 0.02:1. It has been found that the presence of an auxiliary compound selected from ethylenediamine (EDA), monoethanolamine (MEA) and mixtures thereof leads to a substantial increase of the reaction rate as compared to a process wherein the auxiliary compound is not present. |