Amine separation process

Abstract

A mixture of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 mono-, di- and trialkylamines is separated by adding at least about an equimolar amount, based on the amine mixture, of a formyldialkanolamine selected from the group consisting of formyldiethanolamine, formyl aminoethylethanolamine and formyl 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethanol to the alkyl amine mixture, at a temperature of about 120.degree. to about 160.degree. C. and a pressure of about 500 to about 3,000 psig to provide a reaction mixture comprising the trialkylamine, the formyl dialkylamine and the formyl monoalkylamine, together with unreacted formyldialkanolamine and the corresponding alkanolamine, by separately recovering the trialkyl amine, the formyl dialkylamine and the formyl monoalkylamine from the reaction mixture, by reacting the dialkyl amine with said alkanolamine at atmospheric pressure at temperature of about 120.degree. to about 140.degree. C. to provide a reaction mixture comprising the dialkyl amine and formyldialkanolamine, by recovering the dialkyl amine from the formyl reaction mixture, by separately reacting the monoalkyl amine with said alkanolamine at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of about 120.degree. to about 140.degree. C. to provide a reaction mixture comprising the monoalkyl amine and formyl dialkanolamine and recovering the monoalkyl amine from the reaction mixture.