Thermodynamic Study on the Protonation and Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+-Complexation of a Biodegradable Chelant (HEIDA) at Different Ionic Strengths and Temperatures

A potentiometric method has been used for the determination of the protonation constants of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (HEIDA or L) at various temperatures 283.15?≤?T/K?≤?383.15 and different ionic strengths of NaCl_(aq), 0.12?≤?I/mol·kg^?1?≤?4.84. Ionic strength dependence parameters were calculated using a Debye–Hückel type equation, Specific Ion Interaction Theory and Pitzer equations. Protonation constants at infinite dilution calculated by the SIT model are ( log_{10} left( {{}^{T}K_{1}^{text{H}} } right) = 8.998 pm 0.008 ) (amino group), ( log_{10} left( {{}^{T}K_{2}^{text{H}} } right) = 2.515 pm 0.009 ) and ( log_{10} left( {{}^{T}K_{3}^{text{H}} } right) = 1.06 pm 0.002 ) (carboxylic groups). The formation constants of HEIDA complexes with sodium, calcium and magnesium were determined. In the first case, the formation of a weak complex species, NaL, was found and the stability constant value at infinite dilution is log₁₀K_NaL?=?0.78?±?0.23. For Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, the CaL, CaHL, CaL₂ and MgL species were found, respectively. The calculated stability constants for the calcium complexes at T?=?298.15 K and I?=?0.150 mol·dm^?3 are: log₁₀β_CaL?=?4.92?±?0.01, log₁₀β_CaHL?=?11.11?±?0.02 and ( log_{10} beta_{text{Ca{L}}_{2}} )?=?7.84?±?0.03, while for the magnesium complex (at I?=?0.176 mol·dm^?3): log₁₀β_MgL?=?2.928?±?0.006. Protonation thermodynamic functions have also been calculated and interpreted.