Filtro de Aplicações

Application Bulletin AB-076 contains a description of the polarographic determination of low concentrations (1–100 mg/L) of NTA and EDTA in bodies of water. NTA, EDTA and citrate have gained in importance as complexing agents and builders due to the fact that the laws of some countries have made it necessary to find a substitute for phosphates in detergents. This Bulletin describes the determination of larger quantities of complexing agents in detergents using potentiometric titration. The ion-selective copper electrode (Cu-ISE) is used here as the indicator electrode. The determination of complexing agents is not disturbed by the other constituents often present in detergents.

Nitrilotriacetate (NTA) is a complexing agent that is used in detergents as a water softener. NTA forms complexes with metal ions such as Ca2+, Cu2+ and Fe3+ and thus prevents the formation of lime and its deposits. The NTA content is therefore an important parameter for the quality of detergents and is determined using back titration of an excess of copper nitrate.