Studies of the oxidation of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) with lead dioxide suspension in nitric acid

The stoichiometry of the oxidation of IDA or NTA with lead dioxide suspension was studied by polarographic measurement and by derivative polarographic titration. One mole and two moles of Pb(IV) are reduced per mole of IDA and NTA respectively, with moderate speed at room temperature in nitric acid solutions. One mole each of carbon dioxide, formaldehyde and glycine are produced from the oxidation of 1 mole of IDA, and two moles of carbon dioxide, two moles of formaldehyde and one mole of glycine from 1 mole of NTA. The overall reaction in each case may be written as follows: Pb(IV) + IDA + H₂O → Pb(II) + CO₂ + HCHO + H₂NCH₂COOH + 2H⁺ 2Pb(IV) + NTA + 2H₂O → 2Pb(II) + 2CO₂ + 2HCHO + H₂NCH₂COOH + 4H⁺