Complexation of [S,S,S]- and [R,S,R]-isomers of N-bis [2-(1,2-dicarboxyethoxy)ethyl] aspartic acid with Mg(II), Ca(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions in aqueous solution

In a search for environmentally friendly metal chelating ligands for industrial applications, the protonation and complex formation equilibria of S,S,S]- and R,S,R]-isomers of N-bis2-(1,2-dicarboxyethoxy)ethyl] aspartic acid (BCA6) with Mg(II), Ca(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions in aqueous 0.1 M NaCl solution were studied at 25°C by potentiometric titration. The model for complexation and the stability constants of the different complexes were determined for each metal ion using the computer program SUPERQUAD. With all metal ions (M ⁿ⁺), stable ML ^n?6 complexes dominated complex formation for both isomers. Differences in complexation models were found for binuclear species.