N-MethylDiethanolamine (MDEA) is colorless to yellow liquid tertiary amine compound with an ammonia-like odor. It is completely soluble in water.
MDEA is widely used in the gas processing industry as a sweetening agent to remove acidic gases, particularly hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), from natural gas and other gas streams. It's used as an intermediate in the production of various other chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
It can be used as a pH buffer and corrosion inhibitor in metalworking fluids.