MicroSolv Technology Corporation

Very Sensitive Method for

EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

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Note: EDTA is a synthetic metal complexing reagent that is used in a wide variety of industrial applications. Used as a preservative, it has very low biodegradability thus remains in the environment for long periods of time. Found in sewer water, freshwater and ground water, it re-solubilizes precipitated toxic metals back into solution where they can be ingested by plants and animals.

Method Conditions

Column	Cogent HPS C8™, 5µm, 120A
Catalog No.	75008-15P
Dimensions	4.6 x 150mm
Mobile Phase	2% Acetonitrile, 98% DI Water 0.1% Acetic Acid pH 3.5, plus 2g/L Tetrabutylammonium sulfate
Flow rate	2.0 mL/minute
Peaks	1. Water (solvent front) 2. EDTA Fe3+
Injection Volume	20 µL
Detection	UV 258 nm
Temperature	40°C
LOQ	0.2µg/mL

Discussion

EDTA does not have a significant chromophore, so to achieve UV detection this method uses a pre column reaction of a solution of ferric chloride with the sample. The resulting EDTA/Fe3+ has significant UV absorbance making this a very sensitive method. Excellent peak shapes and selectivity make the Cogent HPS C8™ a great choice for this method.

EDTA is extremely difficult to analyze by itself however in its complexed form, it chromatographs well from matrices such as river sediment and other solutions.

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