Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt (also named as sodium edetate) can be formed by reacting a basic solution of ethylenediamine with formaldehyde and sodium or hydrogen cyanide, followed by hydrolysis to form the salt. It can also be produced by using excess sodium hydroxide in the reaction.1 In medicine, sodium edetate is used a s chelating agent to remove heavy metal, such as lead or mercury, from the blood. It is used to lower blood levels of calcium, to control heart rhythm disturbances cased by a heart medication.2 In food industry, it is used as an additive in flume water for washing fruits and vegetables. In industry, it is used in the formulations of anti-adhesive agents, corrosion inhibitors, anti-scaling agents, lubricant additives, surface active agents, etc.3,4 It is also used in photo-chemicals, textile treatment products and dyes, biocides (e.g. disinfectants, pest control products) and polishes and waxes.5
- https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/16211056#section=Top
- https://www.drugs.com/mtm/edetate-disodium-edta.html
- http://www.efsa.europa.eu
- http://www.speiko.de
https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.000.522[1] Jae Hyeon Jo. (2019). New Insight into Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Tetrasodium Salt as a Sacrificing Sodium Ion Source for Sodium-Deficient Cathode Materials for Full Cells. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11 6, 5957–5965. https://doi.org/
10.1021/acsami.8b1848[2] Kate McKey. (2025). Piloting 4% Tetrasodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (T-EDTA) Catheter Lock Solution in Renal Hemodialysis: A Quality Improvement Evaluation. Journal of Infusion Nursing, 48 6, 412–421. https://doi.org/
10.1097/NAN.0000000000000620[3] Jocelyn Hill, Rachel G. (2021). Efficacy of 4% tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (T-EDTA) catheter lock solution in home parenteral nutrition patients: A quality improvement evaluation. Journal of Vascular Access, 22 4, 533–539. https://doi.org/
10.1177/1129729820946916
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Tetrasodium Salt is a chelator used to eliminate inhibition of enzyme catalyzed reactions. It can be used as reactant/reagent for green preparation of O-allylhydroxylamines via organocatalytic oxidation of tertiary allylic amines followed by a [2,3]-Meisenheimer rearrangement.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt (T-EDTA) can be used as a catheter locking solution for patients undergoing renal haemodialysis and those receiving home parenteral nutrition. A 4% T-EDTA catheter locking solution significantly reduces the risk of complications associated with central venous access devices, such as occlusion and catheter-related infections[2-3].
