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Decomposition of nitrilotriacetate (NTA) in soils

1975; Elsevier BV; Volume: 7; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0038-0717(75)90006-1

1879-3428

M.A. Tabatahai, J. M. Bremner,

Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

Abstract The trisodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) has been proposed as a substitute for phosphate in detergents. The decomposition of this chelating agent in soils was studied by performing analyses for NTA and inorganic nitrogen after incubation of NTA-treated soils for various times. The results showed that NTA is readily decomposed by soil micro-organisms under aerobic or anaerobic conditions and that NTA-nitrogen is converted to nitrate under aerobic conditions. The latter finding indicates that use of detergents containing NTA may lead to nitrate enrichment of water resources.