Triethanolamine synthesis from ammonia and ethylene oxide in a continuous flow microchannel reactor has been studied in a wide range of temperatures and residence times. Microchannel reactor performance has been compared to that of conventional tubular reactor. In the microchannel reactor ethylene oxide conversion and triethanolamine yield appear to be higher due to the more efficient mixing of initial reagents and far more intensive heat transfer. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.