Process for preparing aminoethylglycine

A process for preparing aminoethylglycine, wherein diaminoethane is mixed with glyoxylic acid, while cooling and stirring, in a ratio of 2-10:1, in water, a lower alcohol or water/alcohol mixtures, and this mixture is hydrogenated with hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst as reducing agent, under standard pressure or a slightly elevated pressure, the solvent and the excess diaminoethane are then distilled off, and the residue is coevaporated together with toluene and treated with a lower alkyl-alcohol, whereupon aminoethylglycine crystallizes out.