EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), also known as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, glycolic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is an organic compound and an aminopolycarboxylic acid . It is a white solid that is highly soluble in water. Commercial samples are usually hydrated.
What is EDTA used for?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved EDTA chelation therapy as a treatment for lead and heavy metal poisoning. It is also used as an emergency treatment for hypercalcemia and for the control of ventricular arrhythmias associated with digitalis toxicity.
Textiles and paper
- In industry, EDTA is mainly used to chelate metal ions in aqueous solutions.
- In the textile industry, it prevents metal ion impurities from changing the color of dyed products.
- In the pulp and paper industry, EDTA inhibits metal ions.
food
- As a preservative or stabilizer to prevent catalytic oxidative decolorization catalyzed by metal ions.
- EDTA reduces the formation of benzene in soft drinks containing ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate.
Water Softener
- The reduction of water hardness in laundry applications and the dissolution of scale in boilers rely on EDTA and related complexing agents to bind Ca2+, Mg2+ and other metal ions. Once bound to EDTA, these metal complexes are less likely to form precipitates or interfere with the action of soaps and detergents. For similar reasons, cleaning solutions often contain EDTA.
- EDTA is used in the cement industry for the determination of free lime and free magnesium oxide in cement and clinker.
Ion exchange chromatography
- EDTA is used for the separation of lanthanide metals by ion exchange chromatography. Due to its higher expense, ion exchange is now used only to obtain the highest purity of lanthanides relative to countercurrent solvent extraction .
drug
- Calcium sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate is an EDTA derivative used to bind metal ions in the practice of chelation therapy.
- It is used in a similar manner to remove excess iron from the body. This therapy is used to treat complications of repeated blood transfusions, as it is for treating thalassemia.
Dentistry
- Dentists and endodontists use EDTA solutions during endodontic treatment to remove inorganic debris and lubricate root canals.
- EDTA solutions with added surfactants can loosen calcifications within root canals.
eye drops
It is used as a preservative in ophthalmic preparations and eye drops.
analyze
EDTA is widely used in blood analysis.
- It is an anticoagulant for CBC/FBC blood samples.
- EDTA can also be used in tan top tubes for lead testing and in royal blue top tubes for trace metal testing.
- EDTA is a mucus dispersant that has been found to be very effective in reducing bacterial growth during intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
Cosmetics
- In shampoos, cleansers, and other personal care products, EDTA salts are used as chelating agents to increase their stability in the air.
Laboratory applications
- In laboratories, EDTA is widely used to remove metal ions.
- EDTA also acts as a selective inhibitor of dNTP hydrolase, hepatic arginase, and horseradish peroxidase.
- In analytical chemistry, EDTA is used in complex titrations and water hardness analysis, or as a masking agent.
- EDTA has many special uses in biomedical laboratories, such as in veterinary ophthalmology as an anticollagenase to prevent the progression of corneal ulcers in animals.
- In tissue culture, EDTA is used as a chelating agent.
- In histopathology, EDTA is used as a decalcifying agent.
- EDTA also inhibits a range of metallopeptidases.
- EDTA can also be used to test the bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments.
- EDTA is also used to remove fouling from fuel rods in nuclear reactors.
Is EDTA safe for humans?
EDTA can cause
- abdominal cramps
- nausea
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- Headache
- hypotension
- skin problems
- fever
It is not safe to use more than 3 grams of EDTA per day or for more than 5 to 7 days. Too much can cause kidney damage, low calcium levels and even death.
What is the function of EDTA chelating agent?
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a chelating agent that can bind to metals through four carboxylate groups and two amine groups. It is a polyaminocarboxylic acid, colorless water-soluble solid, widely used to dissolve lime scale. It is produced in the form of various salts, notably EDTA disodium and EDTA disodium calcium.
What role does EDTA play in food?
EDTA is used in foods as disodium salt or disodium calcium to prevent lipid oxidation or as a color and flavor stabilizer. In some countries, FeNaEDTA is also used as a source of fortified iron. However, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for EDTA is 2.5 mg/kg/day.
What foods contain EDTA?
Canned products, carbonated drinks, and sandwich spreads like mayonnaise are some common foods that contain EDTA.
What does EDTA do to the skin?
Disodium EDTA is a great chelating agent that binds to metal ions and prevents them from clogging the tiny pores on your skin. Therefore, disodium EDTA in skin care products helps the skin eliminate free radicals. In addition to its chelating properties, it also helps maintain the integrity of the skin.
Is EDTA safe to use on skin?
Based on available data, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel found these ingredients to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations.
Are EDTA banned in other countries?
EDTA is found in many natural waters and is found in higher concentrations in wastewater effluents. Western European countries have banned the use of EDTA in detergents.
Environmental issues
In general, EDTA has low toxic effects on humans and the natural environment. However, there are concerns about its poor biodegradability in conventional wastewater treatment plants and the natural environment, as well as its impact on mobilizing heavy metals from the solid phase posing risks to groundwater.
Is EDTA toxic to the environment?
EDTA and DTPA act as persistent compounds that contribute to the overall chemistry of the aquatic environment. They also have some indirect effects on the aquatic environment and, in extreme cases, direct effects.
Is EDTA biodegradable?
EDTA is considered inherently biodegradable, meaning that it is fully mineralized (i.e., completely converted into carbon dioxide, water, and ammonium) when released into the environment. Rapid biodegradation of EDTA has been demonstrated under slightly alkaline conditions, such as in activated sludge plants.
Does EDTA occur in nature?
In the natural environment, EDTA exists as metal-EDTA complexes.
Alternatives to EDTA
Environmental safety concerns have raised concerns about the biodegradability of aminopolycarboxylates such as EDTA. These concerns have motivated research into alternative aminopolycarboxylates.
- Iminodisuccinic acid (IDS)
- polyaspartic acid
- S,S-Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS)
- Methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA)
