Why is EDTA used in shampoo?

EDTA binds calcium and magnesium from hard water. That helps the shampoo lather and rinse cleanly and stops soap scum forming. It also protects fragrance and oils from metal-triggered spoilage, so the product keeps its colour and smell longer.

Why doesn't my EDTA dissolve in water?

The free acid form of EDTA barely dissolves in plain water. Add a dilute alkali, such as sodium hydroxide solution, slowly while stirring, and it will dissolve as it forms sodium salts. Disodium EDTA dissolves directly.

What is the difference between EDTA and disodium EDTA?

EDTA is the free acid, which needs neutralising to dissolve. Disodium EDTA is its sodium salt, which dissolves straight into water and is the form most cosmetic formulas list. Both chelate metals the same way once dissolved.

How much EDTA to add in a cosmetic formula?

EDTA and its salts are typically used at about 0.05–0.2% of a cosmetic formula. More doesn't help much. For a 1 kg batch, that's roughly half a gram to two grams, so weigh it carefully.

Is EDTA safe in cosmetics?

EDTA and its sodium salts are widely used in shampoos, soaps and creams at very low levels, usually well under half a percent. Keep to typical use levels, patch test finished products, and check that your formula meets the rules for cosmetics sold in India.

Is EDTA used for testing water hardness?

Yes. Labs and water treatment plants measure total hardness by titrating water with an EDTA solution, using an indicator such as Eriochrome Black T. Accurate titration needs analytical grade EDTA, not cosmetic grade.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

EDTA, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is a white powder that binds metal ions like calcium, magnesium and iron. It's used as a chelating agent in shampoos, soaps and creams, in cleaners and water treatment, in textiles and paper, and in lab titrations for water hardness.

अंतिम अपडेट 7 नव॰ 2026

आज Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) का दाम →Read in English

विवरण

फ़ॉर्मूला: C10H16N2O8
CAS नंबर: 60-00-4
ग्रेड: Cosmetic

प्रोडक्ट और पैक साइज़

प्रोडक्ट	ग्रेड	पैक	दाम (GST सहित)	₹ प्रति kg
Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid ( EDTA)	Cosmetic	—	₹199	—

What is EDTA?

EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, also called edetic acid) is an aminopolycarboxylic acid. Its main trick is chelation: it wraps around metal ions and holds them tightly, so they can't react with other ingredients.

Formula: C10H16N2O8
CAS number: 60-00-4 (the free acid). Disodium EDTA is 6381-92-6.
Molar mass: about 292.2 g/mol
Appearance: white crystalline powder, odourless
Solubility: the free acid barely dissolves in plain water. It dissolves once neutralised with an alkali such as sodium hydroxide, forming sodium salts.

That's why many cosmetic formulas use disodium or tetrasodium EDTA, which dissolve directly in water.

Grades and pack sizes at Azlok

Azlok lists ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a cosmetic raw ingredient. The name says acid, not a sodium salt, so expect it to need neutralising to dissolve. The listing name doesn't give a pack size, so check the product page. Compare today's price per kg.

Common uses

Cosmetics and toiletries: a chelating agent in shampoos, body washes, soaps and creams. It helps lather in hard water and protects fragrance, colour and oils from metal-triggered spoilage.
Cleaners and detergents: binds hardness minerals so surfactants work better, and helps remove scale.
Industry: textile dyeing, pulp and paper bleaching, photography and boiler water treatment.
Agriculture: iron and other micronutrients are sold as EDTA chelates so plants can take them up.
Lab: titrations to measure water hardness, and buffers in biology labs.

How to use it

In cosmetics, EDTA and its salts are usually used at about 0.05–0.2% of a formula. These are typical ranges, so follow your formula.

Disperse the EDTA acid in the water phase.
Neutralise it slowly with a dilute alkali, such as sodium hydroxide solution, while stirring, until it clears. Check the pH.
Then add the rest of your water-phase ingredients.

If you don't want to neutralise, buy disodium EDTA instead. Patch test finished skin products before regular use.

Safety and storage

EDTA powder can irritate eyes and the airways. Wear safety glasses, gloves and a dust mask when weighing it.
Handle sodium hydroxide for neutralising with care, as it's corrosive.
Keep it away from strong oxidisers.
Store in a tightly closed container in a dry place.
Keep it away from children and food areas.
Don't dump large amounts into drains or soil. EDTA breaks down slowly in the environment and can carry metals with it. Small lab amounts can be diluted with plenty of water.

Choosing the right grade and pack

For cosmetics, the cosmetic grade listing is the right one. Finished cosmetics sold in India must meet CDSCO and BIS requirements, so keep the supplier's specification and SDS on file. If you'd rather skip neutralising, ask about disodium EDTA. Since formulas only need a fraction of a percent, a small pack goes a long way. Water treatment and detergent units needing 25 kg or more can ask for a quote through bulk inquiry.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

Why is EDTA used in shampoo?: EDTA binds calcium and magnesium from hard water. That helps the shampoo lather and rinse cleanly and stops soap scum forming. It also protects fragrance and oils from metal-triggered spoilage, so the product keeps its colour and smell longer.
Why doesn't my EDTA dissolve in water?: The free acid form of EDTA barely dissolves in plain water. Add a dilute alkali, such as sodium hydroxide solution, slowly while stirring, and it will dissolve as it forms sodium salts. Disodium EDTA dissolves directly.
What is the difference between EDTA and disodium EDTA?: EDTA is the free acid, which needs neutralising to dissolve. Disodium EDTA is its sodium salt, which dissolves straight into water and is the form most cosmetic formulas list. Both chelate metals the same way once dissolved.
How much EDTA to add in a cosmetic formula?: EDTA and its salts are typically used at about 0.05–0.2% of a cosmetic formula. More doesn't help much. For a 1 kg batch, that's roughly half a gram to two grams, so weigh it carefully.
Is EDTA safe in cosmetics?: EDTA and its sodium salts are widely used in shampoos, soaps and creams at very low levels, usually well under half a percent. Keep to typical use levels, patch test finished products, and check that your formula meets the rules for cosmetics sold in India.
Is EDTA used for testing water hardness?: Yes. Labs and water treatment plants measure total hardness by titrating water with an EDTA solution, using an indicator such as Eriochrome Black T. Accurate titration needs analytical grade EDTA, not cosmetic grade.