Complexation of trace metals by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in natural waters

Sources and Environmental Fate of Strongly Complexed Nickel in Estuarine Waters: The Role of Ethylenediaminetetraacetate

“…This suggests that Ni enters the treatment plant in a complexed form. This is consistent with previous studies (17)(18)(19)32) that indicate that metal-EDTA complexes are neither degraded nor removed in wastewater treatment plants.…”

Copper cycles and CuSO4 algicidal capacity in two California lakes

“…Table 2 gives stability constants and the overall equation used for the calculations. This kind of model has been presented before by other authors (Stumm and Morgan 1970, Stiff 1971a, Stiff 1971b, Gardiner 1976, Sylva 1976) but it seems that no two models are precisely the same. The differences are a reflection not of erroneous calculations, but of the fact that no model Can be a complete representation of actual speciation.…”

Speciation and solubility of heavy metals in contaminated soil using X-ray microfluorescence, EXAFS spectroscopy, chemical extraction, and thermodynamic modeling

“…It has been reported that EDTA and its complexes can persist in the environment over several years, with heavy metal-EDTA complexes, including Zn, Cu, and Pb, being the most persistent (Nowack et al, 1997;Satroutdinov et al, 2000). Also, conventional biological and chemical wastewater treatments are not efficient for degrading EDTA-containing effluents (Gardiner, 1976;Hinck et al, 1997). In addition to being weakly biodegraded, EDTA has been reported to be toxic to photosynthetic organisms, inhibiting cellular division, chlorophyll synthesis and algal biomass production (Dufková, 1984).…”