ED-TA

Appearance: White crystalline powder

Chemical Name: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid

Chemical Formula: C10H16N2O8

Packaging Type: 25 Kg. bags

Definition and Areas of Use:

It behaves like a weak organic acid. Carboxylic acids donate hydrogen ions if a base is available to accept them. In this way, they react with both organic (e.g., amines) and inorganic bases. Their reactions with bases, called "neutralizations," are accompanied by significant amounts of heat. Neutralization between an acid and a base produces water plus a salt.

Carboxylic acids with six or fewer carbon atoms are freely or moderately soluble in water; those with more than six carbon atoms are slightly soluble in water. Soluble carboxylic acids dissociate to some extent from water to yield hydrogen ions. Many insoluble carboxylic acids react rapidly with aqueous solutions containing a chemical base and dissolve because neutralization produces a soluble salt. Carboxylic acids in aqueous solution and liquid or molten carboxylic acids can react with active metals to form gaseous hydrogen and a metal salt.

Carboxylic acids, like other acids, react with cyanide salts to form gaseous hydrogen cyanide. The reaction is slower for dry, solid carboxylic acids. Insoluble carboxylic acids react with cyanide solutions to release gaseous hydrogen cyanide. Flammable and/or toxic gases and heat are produced by the reaction of carboxylic acids with diazo compounds, dithiocarbamates, isocyanates, mercaptans, nitrites, and sulfides.

Carboxylic acids react, especially with sulfites, nitrites, thiosulphates (to give H2S and SO3), and dithionites (SO2) in aqueous solution to produce flammable and/or toxic gases and heat. Reactions with carbonates and bicarbonates produce a harmless gas (carbon dioxide) but still give off heat. Like other organic compounds, carboxylic acids can be oxidized by strong oxidizing agents and reduced by strong reducing agents. These reactions produce heat. A wide variety of products are possible. Like other acids, carboxylic acids can initiate polymerization reactions; as with other acids, they often catalyze (increase the rate of) chemical reactions.

Areas of Use

Because it is so good at displacing molecules in coordination complexes, EDTA can be used to prevent small amounts of unwanted metals from reacting and having detrimental effects on products.
EDTA serves to increase the resistance of the cosmetic product to airborne molecules.
Similarly, in personal care and skin care products, EDTA binds to free metal ions and acts as a purifying agent and persistant.
It basically reduces the "hardness" (or presence of metal cations) in tap water so that the other ingredients in shampoo and soap can work to clean more effectively.
EDTA is used in laundry detergents to soften the water that comes into contact with it so that other active ingredients can clean better.
In textiles, EDTA removes colorless metal ions from dyed fabrics to prevent discoloration and also removes residues from industrial equipment (i.e. broilers) that must be used at high temperatures.
In general, EDTA reduces the reactivity of a metal and prevents undesirable effects that may arise from its presence. EDTA is used in salt form, most likely as disodium or calcium disodium EDTA.