Compounds  →  EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)

Separation of EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)

HPLC Application for Analysis of EDTA



EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is amino acid based compound which is widely used in industrial cleaners, detergents, photography, agrochemicals, textile, and food industries. EDTA serves as preservative in packaged food, vitamins and pharmaceutical formulations. It is used in organic and analytical laboratories as scavenger of metals, buffer solution, complexometric titration, masking agent for metal determination, etc.
EDTA is very polar compound with strong chelating properties. Low UV activity and strong binding to metal ions makes HPLC analysis of EDTA very difficult. Reproducible method for determination of wide range on concentration of EDTA in various formulations is developed using Primesep D anion-exchange mixed mode column. Copper sulfate is used for visualization purposes to increase sensitivity of the method. EDTA forms UV active complex with some metal ions. This method can be used for highly accurate quantitation of EDTA in different mixtures and composition. Method demonstrates controllable retention and perfect peak shape. Equilibration of the column prior to analysis requires special attention. Use of higher concentration buffer is recommended to shorten equilibration time, when one buffer is replaced with another.
Application Analytes:

EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)

Application Detection:

UV Detection
HPLC Retention of EDTA in Sulfated CD


EDTA, or Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is widely used in textile, pulp/paper, food and pharmaceutical industries. It has application as chelating agent and preservative. EDTA molecule is very hydrophilic and contains two basic groups and four carboxylic groups. It has tendency to bind to metals, making analysis of EDTA by HPLC very challenging. EDTA is analyzed in the presence of copper sulfate as visualization agent on a Primesep SB column. The method can be used for EDTA determination in various mixtures and compositions using UV detector.


Application Analytes:

EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)

Application Detection:

UV Detection
HILIC Separation of Common Preservatives - Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid and EDTA



Citric acid, ascorbic acid and EDTA are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industry as preservatives. These compounds are very polar in nature. They are weak organic acids with limited UV activity. Retention and separation is achieved on HILIC mixed-mode Obelisc N column. All three compounds are retained by combination of strong HILIC and strong anion-exchange mechanisms. Separation can be monitored by ELSD, LC/MS, UV or Corona CAD. In contrast to other HILIC column, Obelisc N has two ionizable groups basic and acidic which provide ion-exchange interaction in addition to hydrophilic interaction. This allows to use less acetonitrile for HILIC separation.
Application Analytes:

Vitamin C
Ascorbic Acid
EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)

Application Detection:

ELSD/MS Detection
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