Triacetonamine is useful as an intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceutical products, pesticides and photostabilizers for polymers. Triacetonamine is an artifact of plant and fungal extracts using acetone and ammonium hydroxide or natural occurrence of ammonium salts in various steps of the isolation procedures. TAA is the main component of the pyrolysis oil[1].
[1]. Cao JP, et al. Triacetonamine formation in a bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of sewage sludge using acetone as the absorption solvent. Bioresour Technol. 2010 Jun;101(11):4242-5.