Aerobic photodegradation of X(N) chelates of (ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic acid (EDTA): implications for natural waters

Degradation of the Ferric Chelate of EDTA by a Pure Culture of an Agrobacterium sp

A pure culture of an Agrobacterium sp. (deposited as ATCC 55002) that mineralizes the ferric chelate of EDTA (ferric-EDTA) was isolated by selective enrichment from a treatment facility receiving industrial waste containing ferric-EDTA. The isolate grew on ferric-EDTA as the sole carbon source at concentrations exceeding 100 mM. As the degradation proceeded, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and an unidentified metabolite(s) were produced; the pH increased, and iron was precipitated from solution. The maximum rate of degradation observed with sodium ferric-EDTA as the substrate was 24 mM/day. At a substrate concentration of 35 mM, 90% of the substrate was degraded in 3 days and 70% of the associated chemical oxygen demand was removed from solution. Less than 15% of the carbon initially present was incorporated into the cell mass. Significant growth of this strain was not observed with uncomplexed EDTA as the sole carbon source at comparable concentrations; however, the ferric chelate of propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (ferric-PDTA) did support growth.

An ATR-FTIR study of different phosphonic acids adsorbed onto boehmite

An ATR-FTIR study of the vibrational spectra of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) aminomethylphosphonic acid (BHAMP), 1-hydroxyethane-1,1'-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (NTMP) adsorbed onto boehmite is presented. The study was performed in the pH range from 5 to 9, and bands assignments are given in the 1200-900 cm(-1) wavenumber range, where the bands associated with various P-O(H) vibrations can be found. The three phosphonic acids adsorb onto boehmite by forming inner-sphere surface complexes. ATR-FTIR data indicates the presence of both protonated and deprotonated mononuclear surface species. In all cases, the surface-bound ions undergo protonation reactions as pH is decreased. The results are in good agreement with previously proposed surface complexation models.

Environmental chemistry of phosphonates

Phosphonates are anthropogenic complexing agents containing one or more C-PO(OH)(2) groups. They are used in numerous technical and industrial applications as chelating agents and scale inhibitors. Phosphonates have properties that differentiate them from other chelating agents and that greatly affect their environmental behavior. Phosphonates have a very strong interaction with surfaces, which results in a significant removal in technical and natural systems. Due to this strong adsorption, little or no remobilization of metals is expected. No biodegradation of phosphonates during water treatment is observed but photodegradation of the Fe(III)-complexes is rapid. Aminopolyphosphonates are also rapidly oxidized in the presence of Mn(II) and oxygen and stable breakdown products are formed that have been detected in wastewater. The lack of information about phosphonates in the environment is linked to analytical problems of their determination at trace concentrations in natural waters. Further method development is urgently needed in this area, including speciation of these compounds. With the current knowledge on speciation, we can conclude that phosphonates are mainly present as Ca and Mg-complexes in natural waters and therefore do not affect metal speciation or transport.

Environmental chemistry of aminopolycarboxylate chelating agents

Aminopolycarboxylate chelating agents are under scrutiny due to their influence on metal availability and mobility and in particular due to their persistence in the environment. In this review chelate adsorption, metal-mobilization, metal-exchange, mineral dissolution, reactive transport, photodegradation, and chemical degradation are all shown to be substantially affected by the chelated metal ion. The different reactivities of the metal-complexes have to be considered when assessing the reactions of chelating agents in the environment because they occur in natural waters predominantly in the form of metal complexes. Knowing the speciation of chelating agents in natural waters is therefore crucial for predicting their environmental fate. Despite this importance, only a few speciation measurements have been reported for natural waters, and model calculations have been frequently used instead. These calculations are, however, complicated by slow metal-exchange reactions that result in a nonequilibrium speciation and by the presence of naturally occurring ligands that compete with the chelating agents for available metals. The basis for a refined risk assessment of aminocarboxylate chelates should be the actual speciation in the natural water directly determined by analytical methods. The discussion of the influence of chelates on metal availability and fate also has to include the potential presence of other aminopolycarboxylate chelating agents besides the well-known EDTA and NTA.