Catalyst to improve the colour stability of N,N-dialkylalkanolamines

摘要

This invention relates to an improvement in a process for effecting decolorization of an alkanolamine by subjecting the alkanolamine to hydrogenation in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. The improvement for removing color, by-products, or both from a dialkylalkanolamine represented by the formula: wherein R and R1 are methyl, ethyl, or a mixture thereof, which comprises: utilizing a catalyst comprised of palladium carried on gamma alumina as the hydrogenation catalyst.