Morpholine is also produced industrially from diethylene glycol and ammonia, under high temperature and pressure, in the presence of hydrogen and a suitable catalyst.

[9] Morpholine is a common additive, in parts per million concentrations, for pH adjustment in both fossil fuel and nuclear power plant steam systems.

Morpholine is often used in conjunction with low concentrations of hydrazine or ammonia to provide a comprehensive all-volatile treatment chemistry for corrosion protection for the steam systems of such plants.

For example, it is a building block in the preparation of the antibiotic linezolid, the anticancer agent gefitinib (brand name Iressa) and the analgesic dextromoramide.

In research and in industry, the low cost and polarity of morpholine lead to its common use as a solvent for chemical reactions.