
Copyright © 2024 American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
AATCC Manual of International Test Methods and Procedures/2025 AATCC TM168-2023 317
1. Foreword
This test method is an alternate to
AATCC TM149, Test Method for Chela-
tion Value of Aminopolycarboxylic Ac-
ids and Their Salts: Calcium Oxalate. Ti-
tration with a calcium salt using either
oxalate or a dye indicator, as in AATCC
TM149, yields a value that includes par-
tially-substituted EDTA, HEDTA, DTPA,
nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), iminodiacetic
acid (IDA), glycolate and other weak
chelating agents found in some commer-
cial products. This alternative procedure
excludes the effect of the partially-substi-
tuted products, providing a more strin-
gent value.
2. Purpose and Scope
2.1 The active ingredient content of
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA),
N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic
acid (HEDTA) and diethylenetriamine-
pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and their salts is
usually expressed by the calcium chela-
tion value (CaCV). This value indicates
the amount of calcium (as calcium car-
bonate) which will be chelated by a
known weight of chelating agent. This
method excludes the effect of partially-
substituted products.
3. Principle
3.1 Calcium chelation value is deter-
mined experimentally by titrating a
weighed specimen of chelating agent
with a copper nitrate solution of known
concentration in the presence of PAN (1-
(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol). Initially, the
color of the solution is yellow-green due
to free indicator. When all of the chelat-
ing agent has reacted with copper nitrate,
the color of the solution changes to a per-
manent purple which is the end point.
3.2 The CaCV indicates the amount of
calcium (as calcium carbonate) that will
be sequestered by a known weight of
chelating agent and is expressed as milli-
grams of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) per
gram of chelating agent (mg calcium car-
bonate/g chelating agent).
4. Referenced Documents
NOTE: Use current versions of all
publications unless otherwise specified.
4.1 AATCC 149 Test Method for Che-
lation Value of Aminopolycarboxylic Ac-
ids and Their Salts: Calcium Oxalate
5. Terminology
5.1 chelating agent, n.—in textile
chemistry, a chemical capable of deacti-
vating metal ions by formation of a wa-
ter-soluble complex. SYN: sequestering
agent.
6. Safety Precautions
6.1 The safety precautions specified in
the method/procedure are ancillary to the
testing procedures and are not intended to
be all inclusive.
6.2 It is the user’s responsibility to ref-
erence applicable safety data sheets, use
safe and proper techniques, and wear ap-
propriate personal protective equipment
in handling materials in this standard.
7. Reagents
7.1 Acetic acid, 1.0N (CH3COOH)
7.2 Cupric nitrate 2.5 hydrate
(Cu(NO3)2 · 2.5H2O)
7.3 Ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid
(free acid) (EDTA) (C10H16O8N2)
7.4 Methanol
7.5 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol, (PAN)
(C15H11ON3)
7.6 Sodium acetate trihydrate
(CH3COONa · 3H2O)
7.7 Sodium hydroxide, 1.0N (NaOH)
8. Sampling
8.1 Conduct the test in triplicate; i.e.,
analyze 3 test specimens from a sample.
9. Specimens
9.1 Do not use aluminum or metallic
weighing pans.
9.2 If solid chelating agent is being
evaluated, dry a 2-g sample at the appro-
priate temperature for at least 2 h and
cool in a desiccator before weighing
specimens.
9.2.1 Dry free acid forms of chelating
agents at 120°C.
9.2.2 Dry salt forms of chelating agents
at 80°C.
9.3 For analysis of solid EDTA,
HEDTA, and DTPA (either free acid or
salt forms) weigh a 0.24-0.26 g specimen
of the dried chelating agent to an accu-
racy of 0.01 g.
9.4 For analysis of commercial solu-
tion, of salts of the chelating agents,
weigh a 0.49-0.51 g specimen of the solu-
tion to an accuracy of 0.01 g.
10. Preparation of Reagents
10.1 Cupric Nitrate Solution: Dissolve
23.30 g of cupric nitrate 2.5 hydrate and
dilute to 1.000 L with distilled water in a
volumetric flask. Calculate the molarity
of the cupric nitrate solution (see 10.4).
10.2 PAN Indicator: Dissolve 0.025 g
of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol in 50 mL
of methanol. Store in a refrigerator in a
stoppered bottled. Prepare fresh weekly.
10.3 Acetate Buffer Solution: (pH =
4.65). Dissolve 34.0 g of sodium acetate
trihydrate in 500 mL of distilled water
and add 15 mL of glacial acetic acid. Mix
well and store in a closed container.
10.4 Standardization of Copper-Nitrate
Solution: Weigh to the nearest 0.0001 g
approximately 0.5 g of pure reagent
grade EDTA acid powder into each of the
three 250-mL Erlenmeyer flasks. Add
150 mL of distilled water and 6.5 mL of
1.0N sodium hydroxide (or five drops of
50% sodium hydroxide) and stir the mix-
ture until the EDTA is dissolved. Add 25
mL of sodium acetate buffer. Adjust to
pH 4.5-5.5 with 1.0N acetic acid or 1.0N
sodium hydroxide, if necessary. Add 1
mL PAN indicator and titrate immedi-
ately with copper nitrate to a permanent
purple end point. Calculate the molarity
of copper using Equation 1:
(Eq. 1)
where:
M= Molarity of copper nitrate, ex-
pressed in moles/L
W= Weight of EDTA acid in grams
P= Percent purity of EDTA acid
V= Volume of copper nitrate titrant
in mL
K= 0.042994
=
=
11. Procedure
11.1 Transfer the specimen to a 500-
mL Erlenmeyer flask and add 150 mL of
distilled water (see 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4).
Wash any residual chelating agent from
the weighing paper or dish into the flask,
and swirl to mix (dissolve).
11.2 Add 25 mL of pH 4.65 acetate
MW()P()K()
V
---------------------------=
1000()mL/L
100()232.59 g/mole()
------------------------------------------------------
0.042994 mole mL–
gL–
---------------------------
AATCC TM168-2023
Test Method for Chelation Value of Polyaminopolycarboxylic
Acids and Their Salts: Copper PAN
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