Disodium EDTA and Tetrasodium EDTA are both chelating agents, but they differ in pH, solubility, chelate value and typical applications. Disodium EDTA is commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products, while Tetrasodium EDTA is more suitable for alkaline detergent formulations.
Disodium EDTA vs Tetrasodium EDTA
| Property | Disodium EDTA | Tetrasodium EDTA |
| Other name | EDTA 2NA | EDTA 4NA |
| CAS NO. | 6381-92-6 | 64-02-8 |
| Chemical name | Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt dihydrate | Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt tetrahydrate |
| Chemical formula | C10H14N2Na2O8 | C10H12N2Na4O8 |
| Ph | 4.00-5.00 (Slightly acidic) | 10.50-11.50 (Alkaline) |
| Water Solubility | Moderate | Higher |
| Cosmetic Use | Common | Limited |
| Detergent Use | Possible | Widely used |
| Chelate Value(Mg Caco3/G) | ≥265.00 | ≥220.00 |
| Typical Formulations | Skin care, shampoos, oral care | Laundry detergents, I&I cleaning |
What is Disodium EDTA?
Disodium EDTA,trade name as EDTA 2NA, its common type is EDTA Disodium Salt Dihydrate (CAS 6381-92-6). Disodium EDTA supplied by HSH Chemical is a white crystalline powder,which is widely used to sequester and decrease the reactivity of metal ions in cosmetics.
Key Characteristics of Disodium EDTA
INCI name: Disodium EDTA
Synonym: Disodium EDTA dihydrate; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Disodium Salt
CAS No.: 6381-92-6
Chemical Formula: C10H14N2Na2O8·2H2O
Molecular Weight: 372.24
Ph (1% solution): 4.00-5.00
Appearance: White crystalline powderBenefits: chelating agent, binds metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+.
Main Uses of Disodium EDTA
Personal care products: face wash,sunscreen,shampoo,conditioner,Soap
Home Care and I&I Cleaning: Laundry Detergent, descaling, rust removal
Water treatment: boiler water treatment agent
Pharmaceutical: Metronidazole Gel, Lincomycin hydrochloride injection, Fleroxacin injection.
Oil Industry: Anti-caking Agent
What is Tetrasodium EDTA?
Tetrasodium EDTA (EDTA-4Na) is the fully neutralized sodium salt form of EDTA with four sodium ions. Compared with Disodium EDTA, it has a higher pH and better water solubility. These properties makes it particularly suitable for alkaline detergent, home care and I&I Cleaning.
Key Characteristics of Tetrasodium EDTA
INCI Name: Tetrasodium EDTA
Synonym: Tetrasodium EDTA tetrahydrate
CAS NO.: 64-02-8; 13235-36-4 ( tetrahydrate)
Chemical Formula: C10H12N2Na4O8·4H2O
Molecular Weight: 452.23
Ph (1% solution): 10.50-11.50
Appearance: White crystalline powderBenefits: chelating agent, binds metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+.
Main Uses of Tetrasodium EDTA
Tetrasodium EDTA is primarily used in home care and I&I cleaning.
Household detergents and cleaning products due to its excellent compatibility with alkaline formulations.
Industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning systems requiring effective metal ion sequestration.
Water treatment applications as a water softener and multivalent chelating agent.
Textile dyeing and printing processes to improve process stability and color performance.
Textile dyeing and printing processes to improve process stability and color performance.
Key Differences Between Disodium EDTA and Tetrasodium EDTA
pH Differences
Disodium EDTA typically has a pH range of 4.00–5.00, while Tetrasodium EDTA has a much higher pH of 10.50–11.50. This difference is due to the degree of neutralization of the EDTA molecule.
The lower pH of Disodium EDTA makes it more compatible with mildly acidic systems such as skincare and personal care products, whereas the higher pH of Tetrasodium EDTA makes it suitable for alkaline detergent formulations.
Solubility Differences
Tetrasodium EDTA exhibits significantly higher water solubility compared to Disodium EDTA, allowing it to dissolve more quickly in alkaline aqueous systems without requiring heating or extended mixing time.
Disodium EDTA has moderate solubility and may require pH adjustment or gentle heating to achieve complete dissolution in water-based formulations.
Application Differences
Due to their different chemical properties, Disodium EDTA and Tetrasodium EDTA are used in different industries.
Disodium EDTA is mainly used in personal care and cosmetic formulations such as skin care products, shampoos, conditioners, and oral care products.
Tetrasodium EDTA is mainly used in household detergents, industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning products, water treatment, and textile processing applications.
Formulation Compatibility
Disodium EDTA shows better compatibility in mildly acidic to neutral formulations, which are commonly found in cosmetic and personal care products. It helps maintain stability of active ingredients and preservative systems in these environments.
Tetrasodium EDTA is more compatible with alkaline systems and high-surfactant detergent formulations. It performs effectively in environments with higher pH where strong cleaning performance and metal ion control are required.
Which One Should You Choose?
Disodium EDTA is the better choice if your formulation requires a chelating agent for mildly acidic to neutral systems, especially in personal care and cosmetic products.
Skin care formulations
Shampoos and conditioners
Facial cleansers
Oral care products
Mild detergent systems
Tetrasodium EDTA is recommended for alkaline systems where higher solubility and stronger chelating performance are required.
Household detergents
Industrial and institutional cleaning (I&I) products
Water treatment applications
Textile dyeing and printing
Industrial processing systems
In general, the choice between Disodium EDTA and Tetrasodium EDTA depends on the pH of the formulation and the target application system. Acidic cosmetic systems typically use Disodium EDTA, while alkaline detergent systems favor Tetrasodium EDTA.
FAQ
Q.Can Disodium EDTA replace Tetrasodium EDTA?
A.Yes, Disodium EDTA can replace Tetrasodium EDTA in some formulations, but they are not fully replaced. Disodium EDTA is more suitable for mildly acidic systems, while Tetrasodium EDTA is preferred in alkaline detergent systems due to better solubility and compatibility.
Q.Which EDTA is better for cosmetics?
A.Disodium EDTA is better for cosmetic due to its slightly acidic and neutral pH.
Q.Why is Tetrasodium EDTA used in detergents?
A.Because Tetrasodium EDTA has higher pH value and water solubility than Disodium EDTA. It effectively chelates metal ions such as calcium and magnesium, which can improve cleaning efficiency and preventing scale formation.
Q.Is Tetrasodium EDTA stronger than Disodium EDTA?
A.No,the chelating ability of Tetrasodium EDTA is not stronger than Disodium EDTA. Only Tetrasodium EDTA is more effective in alkaline systems due to higher solubility and better performance under high pH conditions. Disodium EDTA is more suitable for acidic to neutral environments.
Conclusion
Disodium EDTA and Tetrasodium EDTA are both effective chelating agents but are used in different formulation systems due to pH and solubility differences. Disodium EDTA is mainly preferred for cosmetic and mildly acidic personal care products, while Tetrasodium EDTA is widely used in alkaline detergents and industrial cleaning applications. The choice depends on whether the formulation is acidic or alkaline in nature. As a professional manufacturer and exporter, HSH Chemical sales both Disodium EDTA and Tetrasodium EDTA with competitive price.
