There is disclosed a process for recovering monoethanolamine from an aqueous mother liquor solution comprising the steps of: (a) adding excess ammonia or alkali hydroxide and a solvent to the aqueous solution comprised of monoethanolamine sulfate and at least one component selected from the group of inorganic salts consisting of ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulfite, alkali sulfite, and alkali sulfate, to precipitate the inorganic salts, wherein the alkali is lithium, sodium, or potassium; (b) separating the inorganic salts by means of a solid-liquid separation to yield an aqueous solution comprised of the monoethanolamine; and (c) distilling the solvent to yield an aqueous solution comprised of the monoethanolamine and optionally purifying the MEA by distillation. The recovered MEA is recycled to produce taurine.