Biodegradabilities of Ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic Acid (EDDS) and Other Chelating Agents

Abstract

Biodegradabilities of chelating agents were tested with activated sludge. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) remained intact in the effuent even after acclimation for 100 days, but propanediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid (PDDS) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) were biodegraded after acclimation for 5 and 23 days, respectively. Optical isomers of ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) had different biodegradabilitibs: SS- and RS-isomers were susceptible to biodegradation, but the RR-isomer was resistant. SS-isomer was degraded even by activated sludge without acclimation.