Description

Tetrasodium EDTA is a chelating agent used to prevent minerals and metals present in water-based formulations from bonding to other ingredients and impacting their efficacy. Chelating agents also prevent unwanted changes to a product’s texture, odor, and/or consistency, so are considered good stabilizers.

Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt resulting from the neutralization of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid with four equivalents of sodium hydroxide (or an equivalent sodium base). It is a white solid that is highly soluble in water. Commercial samples are often hydrated, e.g. Na4EDTA.4H2O. The properties of solutions produced from the anhydrous and hydrated forms are the same, provided they are at the same pH.

It is used as a source of the chelating agent EDTA4-. A 1% aqueous solution has a pH of approximately 11.3. When dissolved in neutral water, it converts partially to H2EDTA2-. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is produced commercially via the intermediacy of tetrasodium EDTA

Tetrasodium EDTA (which stands for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a water-soluble ingredient used as a “chelator,” which means it binds to certain mineral ions to inactivate them. Through this action, it can prevent the deterioration of cosmetic and personal care products, as it stops the growth of mold and other microorganisms.