Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), also known by edetic acid is an aminopolycarboxylic acid and a colorless, water-soluble solid. Most of the applications are:

• In industry, EDTA is mainly used to sequester metal ions in aqueous solution.
• In the textile industry, it prevents metal ion impurities from modifying colors of dyed products.
• In the pulp and paper industry, EDTA inhibits the ability of metal ions, especially Mn2+, from catalyzing the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide, which is used in chlorine-free bleaching.
• EDTA is added to some food as a preservative or stabilizer to prevent catalytic oxidative decoloration, which is catalyzed by metal ions.
• In soft drinks containing ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate, EDTA mitigates formation of benzene (a carcinogen).
• The reduction of water hardness in laundry applications and the dissolution of scale in boilers both rely on EDTA and related complexants to bind Ca2+, Mg2+, as well as other metal ions.
• EDTA is used in the cement industry for the determination of free lime and free magnesia in cement and clinkers.