Formula C5H14ClNO | Melting point 302 °C | |
 | ||
Appearance White or deliquescent crystals | ||
Solidification of a urea choline chloride eutectic
Choline chloride is an organic compound and a quaternary ammonium salt. It has a choline cation with chloride anion. Alternative names are hepacholine, biocolina and lipotril.
Contents
Synthesis
In the laboratory choline can be prepared by methylation of dimethylethanolamine with methyl chloride.
Johnson Matthey Process Technology produce choline chloride from ethylene oxide, hydrochloric acid, and trimethylamine, or from the pre-formed salt:
Applications
Choline chloride is mass-produced and is an important additive in feed especially for chickens where it accelerates growth. It forms a deep eutectic solvent with urea, ethylene glycol, glycerol and many other compounds. Other commercial choline salts are choline hydroxide and choline bitartrate. In foodstuffs the compound is often present as phosphatidylcholine. It is also used as a clay control additive in fluids used for hydraulic fracturing.