# Specialty amines and ethanolamines: Emissions

How coal-based methanol can double an amine's footprint

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/emissions/

How coal-based methanol can double an amine's footprint What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 3.00 t CO2e per t range about 2.4-5.3 (indicative; top end coal-based methanol) · calculated: MEA about 2.4 (0.72 t EO at 1.9 + 0.28 t NH3 at 2.8 + about 0.3 process); DMA about 2.7 with gas-based methanol, 4.1 with world-average methanol (1.8 t CO2e/t) and over 5 with coal-based methanol Global emissions per year 18.0 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · about 6 Mt x 3.0 t CO2e/t (indicative)

Per t of amine product, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: ethylene oxide, ammonia and methanol tiles; process energy indicative. Global total: derived (indicative).

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 80% Production / process 15% Movement 5%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 2.4 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 80% | ammonia, methanol and EO production | coal-based methanol and ammonia in China raise the figure | ammonia, methanol and ethylene oxide tiles |
| **Production / process** | about 0.45 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 15% | steam for distillation of equilibrium mixtures and recycle, reactor heat |  | indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.15 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 5% | pressurised ISO tanks and tankers |  | indicative |
| **Use** | small direct emissions; in carbon capture, each t of MEA lost is replaced while it helps capture hundreds of tonnes of CO2 | – | solvent degradation (about 0.3-1.5 kg MEA per t CO2 captured, indicative) | amine and nitrosamine emissions from capture plants need control | IEAGHG (indicative) |
| **End of life** | small | – | biodegradation in wastewater treatment; incineration of spent solvents | nitrogen in wastewater | indicative |

#### Other environmental impacts

Nitrosamine formation, corrosive releases, nitrogen-rich effluent. DMF and NMP are reproductive toxicants.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Green or low-carbon ammonia and methanol as feed
- Bio-ethanol based ethylamines (already common in India)
- Heat integration and heat pumps on distillation trains
- MEA reductive amination instead of the salty EDC route for ethyleneamines

#### India

Indian amine makers use imported methanol and ammonia and molasses ethanol; their main emissions are upstream. Neither Alkyl nor Balaji publishes product carbon footprints in the sources used.
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Methylamines from green ammonia and green or biomethanol** | below 1 t CO2e per t (indicative) | high while green ammonia costs $570-740/t in India (ammonia tile: SECI 2025 auction) and green methanol more than grey (indicative) | no commercial plant found; feedstock projects under way in India | ammonia tile; indicative |
| **Ethylamines from molasses or grain ethanol** | lower than fossil routes (indicative) | depends on government ethanol prices | commercial in India (Alkyl, Balaji) | indicative |

 For a climate investor Amines are an enabler of carbon capture: every capture plant needs solvent, and better amines (piperazine blends, hindered amines) cut regeneration energy. Indian makers could supply capture solvents and low-carbon amines if green ammonia and methanol become available locally. What has to be true: capture projects reach final investment decision in India and abroad, and buyers pay for low-carbon feed.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/links/index.md)