Disodium EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt) is widely used in various industries due to its chelating properties. Some of the major and common uses of Disodium EDTA include:

1. Food and Beverage Industry: Disodium EDTA is utilized as a food preservative to enhance the shelf life of products. It prevents discoloration and maintains the texture and flavor of processed foods. It’s often added to canned vegetables, dressings, mayonnaise, and carbonated beverages.
2. Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: It is included in cosmetic formulations, such as shampoos, conditioners, creams, lotions, and makeup, to improve stability, prevent product degradation, and maintain product performance over time.
3. Pharmaceuticals: Disodium EDTA is used in pharmaceuticals to improve the stability of medications, particularly those that are sensitive to metal ions or prone to oxidative degradation. It helps maintain the efficacy of drugs and extends their shelf life.
4. Cleaning and Detergents: In household cleaning products and detergents, Disodium EDTA is employed to enhance the effectiveness of the products by chelating metal ions present in water. This prevents the ions from interfering with the cleaning process and causing mineral buildup.
5. Industrial Applications: Disodium EDTA is used in various industrial processes, such as water treatment, where it helps control the adverse effects of metal ions on industrial equipment and processes. It also finds use in the textile industry for dyeing and in the manufacturing of paper and pulp to improve product quality.
6. Chelation Therapy: In medical applications, Disodium EDTA is used in chelation therapy, a treatment designed to remove heavy metal ions from the body. It is administered intravenously and can help manage heavy metal poisoning or certain medical conditions related to metal accumulation.
7. Analytical Chemistry: Disodium EDTA is used in laboratory settings as a chelating agent to prevent metal ions from interfering with chemical analyses and experiments.
8. Horticulture: It can be used as a micronutrient fertilizer in horticulture to deliver essential metal ions to plants in a form that is readily available for absorption.
9. Photography: In the past, Disodium EDTA was used in some photographic processes to prevent unwanted reactions caused by metal ions.