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Occurrence, Fate and Relevance of Aminopolycarboxylate Chelating Agents in the Rhine Basin, Germany

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The Rhine

Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC5,volume 5L))

Abstract

Aminopolycarboxylates are used in many products and industrial applications because of their ability to form stable complexes with metal ions. The most commonly used aminopolycarboxylates are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). More recently, 1,3-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (1,3-PDTA), β-alaninediacetic acid (β-ADA) and methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA) were introduced. Due to their high polarity and extensive usage, aminopolycarboxylates found their way into the aquatic environment. In particular the Rhine has been subject of major aminopolycarboxylate pollution in the past. However, joint efforts of drinking water suppliers, industries, and German authorities resulted in an impressive reduction of the general pollution. Besides presenting long-term and actual occurrence data, this report also focuses on aminopolycarboxylate use volumes, analysis, their speciation and fate in the environment, as well as on their toxicological and ecotoxicological properties in order to discuss the detected levels of contamination.

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Abbreviations

β-ADA:

β-Alaninediacetic acid

[S,S]-EDDS:

[S,S]-Ethylenediaminedisuccinate

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

DIN:

Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.

DTPA:

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid

ICP:

Inductively coupled plasma

IDS:

Iminodisuccinic acid sodium salt

MGDA:

Methylglycinediacetic acid

MS:

Mass spectrometry

NTA:

Nitrilotriacetic acid

1,3-PDTA:

1,3-Propylenediaminetetraacetic acid

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  1. DVGW-Water Technology Center (TZW), Chemical Analysis Department, Karlsruher Straße 84, 76139, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Carsten K. Schmidt & Heinz-Jürgen Brauch

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  1. Carsten K. Schmidt
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  2. Heinz-Jürgen Brauch
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Correspondence to Carsten K. Schmidt .

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Thomas P. Knepper

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Schmidt, C.K., Brauch, HJ. Occurrence, Fate and Relevance of Aminopolycarboxylate Chelating Agents in the Rhine Basin, Germany. In: Knepper, T.P. (eds) The Rhine. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 5L. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_5_019

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