At least one alkanolamine is prepared by reacting ammonia with alkylene
oxide in a reaction space in the presence of a catalyst to give
monoalkanolamine or dialkanolamine or trialkanolamine or a mixture of two
or three of these compounds, the distribution of the various
alkanolamines within the product spectrum being controlled by means of
the temperature in the reaction space, by a process in which the
temperature is established by regulating the temperature profile in the
reaction space.