EDTA
General Product Information
| Article | EDTA |
| Synonyms | E385, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, Diaminoethane-tetraacetic acid, Versene |
| CAS No. | 60-00-4 |
| EEG No. | – |
| EINECS No. | 200-449-4 |
| IMO | – |
| Tariff Code | 29224985 |
| UN No. | – |
| VLG/ADR | – |
Description
EDTA is a widely used organic chelating agent that can bind strongly with metal ions. Because of its ability to form stable complexes with metal ions, such as calcium, magnesium, iron and copper, EDTA is widely used in industrial, Pharmaceutical, agricultural and domestic Applications. EDTA is supplied commercially as an acid or in salt form (such as sodium EDTA), and is especially effective at preventing metal ion reactions in aqueous systems and formulations.
Characteristics
- Odor: Odorless.
- Hygroscopic: –
- Color: White.
- Grade: Food.
- Solubility: Moderately soluble in water; highly soluble in alkaline solutions and in salt forms.
- Taste: –
- Shape: Crystalline powder.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | C10H16N2O8 |
| Molar Weight | 292.24 g/mol |
| Melting Point | Approx. 240 °C (decomposition). |
| Boiling Point | – |
| Density | – |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH | – |
Interessing Links
- Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) – Guidelines and standards for food additives and ingredients.
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- European Food Information Council (EFIC)
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – Information on the safety and uses of food additives and ingredients.
- PubChem – Edetic Acid – Chemical information by the National Library of Medicine of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH-NCBI).
- Wikipedia – Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
Applications
EDTA is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Food Industry
Nutritional additive (E385) to prevent oxidation of fats.
2. Pharmaceutical Industry
Chelator in medication and as a preservative.
3. Cosmetic Industry
Stabilizes products and optimizes action of preservatives.
4. Textile & Paper Industry
Removes metal ions that affect dye stability and process quality.
5. Water Treatment
Removes hardness ions such as calcium and magnesium to prevent precipitation.
6. Cleaning Agents
Improves action of detergents and stabilizes formulations.
7. Agriculture
Chelator of micronutrients in fertilizers for improved uptake by plants.