Uses and Disadvantages of EDTA-2Na
What is EDTA-2Na
As a member of the edetate family, disodium edetate (EDTA-2Na) is also an important chelating agent with a wider range of coordination properties than calcium edetate.
Since EDTA-2Na can form stable water-soluble chelates with almost all metal ions, its complexation can eliminate the clouding, deterioration, discoloration, and oxidative loss of vitamin C caused by metal ions. EDTA-2Na can also improve the antioxidant properties of fats and oils, thus playing a role in color protection, stabilization, and antioxidation.
Therefore, EDTA-2Na has important applications in the dyestuff, water treatment industry, food industry, and pharmaceutical industry.
EDTA-2Na uses
In the food industry, EDTA-2Na can be added as an antioxidant synergist. This helps dried fruit, canned food, and other foods to be better preserved and ensures the taste and color of the food.
China's Hygienic Standard for the Use of Food Additives (GB-2760-2014) stipulates the following. Disodium edetate is limited to 0.07g/kg in jams and vegetable purees, 0.25g/kg in dried fruits, canned vegetables, and canned grains, 0.075g/kg in solid compound seasonings, chicken essence, and chicken powder, and 0.03g/kg in beverages.
In the pharmaceutical industry, disodium edetate is often added to prevent oxidation of the drug itself and to improve the stability of the drug during preparation, storage, and clinical formulation. Disodium edetate can also be used to treat lead poisoning, hypercalcemia, and local eye spotting to remove calcium salt deposits.
For example, pantoprazole sodium is used to treat acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding disorders such as gastric ulcers and compound gastric ulcers. It is prone to discoloration and turbidity when prepared as an injection solution. This requires the addition of disodium edetate to control the number of insoluble particles in the injection solution during production and preparation to ensure the stability of the injection solution with medication.
Disodium edetate is also added to tinidazole sodium chloride injection, tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops, recombinant human interferon alpha-2b injection, etc. to improve stability and prevent oxidation of drugs.
In the cosmetic industry, it has been found that the addition of disodium edetate to cosmetics and toiletries not only complexes metal ions in water but also antioxidant and antibacterial. It can also improve the moisturizing performance of alcohol-based low molecular-weight moisturizers (such as glycerin and polyethylene glycol 400) to a certain extent.
Disadvantages of EDTA-2Na
Disodium edetate has very low toxicity, so it can be widely ligated chelating properties mostly used in food, pharmaceutical, and other industries. However, it can cause irritation to mucous membranes, the upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. Especially in excess or not in accordance with the use of EDTA-2Na, it can affect human health, not only will lead to the loss of trace elements in the human body, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms, and even lead to temporary kidney dysfunction, lower blood pressure and hypocalcemia.
Therefore, researchers are constantly improving the detection technology of edetate disodium to more accurately control the content of edetate disodium in food and medicine.