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Description
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate (TSGD) is a readily biodegradable aminopolycarboxylate chelating agent widely used in cosmetics, personal care products, household cleaners, detergents, industrial cleaning formulations, water treatment chemicals, and institutional hygiene products. It is the tetrasodium salt of glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) and serves as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chelating agents such as EDTA and NTA.
TSGD functions by binding polyvalent metal ions—including calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese—thereby preventing undesirable reactions that reduce product performance. By sequestering these metal ions, TSGD enhances cleaning efficiency, improves foam stability, increases preservative effectiveness, prevents discoloration, and extends product shelf life.
Because it is derived from naturally occurring amino acid chemistry and exhibits excellent biodegradability, TSGD has become one of the preferred chelating agents in modern sustainable formulations. It is extensively used in shampoos, body washes, liquid soaps, laundry detergents, hard-surface cleaners, industrial cleaners, agricultural formulations, and water treatment systems.
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CAS Number
CAS Number: 51981-21-6
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Synonyms
• Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
• TSGD
• GLDA Tetrasodium Salt
• Tetrasodium GLDA
• Tetrasodium N,N-Bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamate
• Tetrasodium Glutamic Acid Diacetate
• Glutamate Diacetate Tetrasodium Salt
• Biodegradable Chelating Agent
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Physical Properties
TSGD is typically supplied as a clear, colorless to pale yellow aqueous solution, although solid grades are also commercially available. It exhibits excellent water solubility and remains stable over a broad pH range.
Typical characteristics include:
• Appearance: Clear colorless to pale yellow liquid or white solid
• Physical state: Liquid or powder
• Odor: Nearly odorless
• Molecular formula: C₉H₉NNa₄O₈
• Molecular weight: 351.10 g/mol
• Density (liquid): Approximately 1.30–1.40 g/cm³
• pH (40% solution): Approximately 10–11
• Water solubility: Completely soluble
Its high solubility enables rapid incorporation into aqueous formulations.
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Chemical Properties
TSGD contains multiple carboxylate functional groups capable of strongly binding divalent and trivalent metal ions. These complexes remain highly water-soluble, preventing metal precipitation and improving formulation stability.
Important chemical characteristics include:
• Excellent chelating capacity
• High biodegradability
• Broad pH stability
• Excellent calcium sequestration
• Excellent magnesium sequestration
• Strong iron-binding capability
• Low toxicity
• Excellent formulation compatibility
Unlike many traditional chelating agents, TSGD demonstrates excellent environmental performance while maintaining high metal-binding efficiency.
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Manufacturing Process
Commercial TSGD is produced through the controlled carboxymethylation of glutamic acid, followed by neutralization with sodium hydroxide to obtain the fully neutralized tetrasodium salt.
Typical manufacturing stages include:
• Preparation of glutamic acid
• Carboxymethylation reaction
• Neutralization with sodium hydroxide
• Purification
• Filtration
• Concentration
• Quality control testing
• Packaging
High-purity grades are manufactured for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.
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Mechanism of Action
TSGD functions by forming stable coordination complexes with metal ions present in water or formulations.
Its primary mechanisms include:
• Chelation of calcium ions
• Chelation of magnesium ions
• Chelation of iron ions
• Prevention of metal-catalyzed oxidation
• Improvement of preservative performance
• Enhancement of detergent efficiency
• Stabilization of formulations
By removing metal ions from solution, TSGD minimizes oxidation reactions, prevents soap scum formation, and improves overall product performance.
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Applications
TSGD is widely used in numerous industries.
Cosmetic Industry
• Shampoos
• Conditioners
• Facial cleansers
• Body washes
• Liquid soaps
• Skin creams
• Wet wipes
• Sunscreens
Household Cleaning
• Dishwashing liquids
• Laundry detergents
• Hard surface cleaners
• Bathroom cleaners
• Glass cleaners
• Multi-purpose cleaners
Industrial Cleaning
• CIP cleaning systems
• Metal cleaners
• Food processing cleaners
• Industrial detergents
Water Treatment
• Water conditioning
• Scale prevention
• Boiler treatment
• Cooling water systems
Agriculture
• Micronutrient fertilizers
• Agrochemical formulations
• Crop protection products
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Advantages
TSGD provides numerous formulation benefits.
• Readily biodegradable
• Environmentally friendly
• Excellent metal ion sequestration
• Improves preservative efficacy
• Enhances cleaning performance
• Broad pH stability
• Excellent water solubility
• Low toxicity
• Excellent compatibility
• Sustainable alternative to EDTA
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Limitations
Certain limitations should be considered.
• Slightly higher cost than some conventional chelating agents
• Performance may decrease in extremely acidic conditions
• High concentrations are generally unnecessary
• Requires appropriate formulation optimization
• Less effective than certain specialty chelators for specific heavy metals
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Stability
TSGD demonstrates excellent long-term stability.
It remains stable under:
• Ambient temperatures
• Alkaline conditions
• Neutral formulations
• Normal storage conditions
• Long-term warehouse storage
