Triclopyr triethylamine salt is an herbicide used extensively to control woody plants and broadleaf weeds. It enters into the environment through its production and use. In the environment, it is usually degraded by photodegradation and microbial breakdown.
Triethylamine is mainly used in the production of quaternary ammonium compounds for textile auxiliaries and quaternary ammonium salts of dyes. It is also a catalyst and acid neutralizer for condensation reactions and is useful as an intermediate for manufacturing medicines, pesticides and other chemicals.
Acute exposure can irritate the skin and mucous membranes in humans. Chronic (long-term) exposure of workers to triethylamine vapor has been observed to cause reversible corneal edema. Chronic inhalation exposure has resulted in respiratory and hematological effects and eye lesions in rats and rabbits.
The key difference between triethylamine and triethanolamine is that triethylamine contains three ethyl group attached to the same nitrogen atom whereas triethanolamine contains three ethyl alcohol groups attached to the same nitrogen atom.