Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate (MGDA-Na3): The High-Performance Green Chelator for Modern Formulations

In the evolving landscape of the European chemical industry, regulatory pressures (such as REACH) and consumer demand for sustainability are driving a shift away from traditional phosphorus-based builders and persistent chelants like EDTA.

Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate, widely known as MGDA or MGDA-Na3, has emerged as the premier "green" solution. Offering a powerful combination of rapid biodegradability and exceptional calcium-binding capacity, MGDA is the gold standard for high-performance, eco-conscious cleaning products.

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1. What is MGDA-Na3?

Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate (CAS No. 164462-16-2) is a small-molecule, amino acid-based chelating agent. Derived primarily from alanine, it is designed to capture and sequester multivalent metal ions (such as $C{a}^{2+}$ and $M{g}^{2+}$) in aqueous solutions.

Unlike many traditional alternatives, MGDA provides a high degree of stability while being almost entirely derived from sustainable precursors, making it a favorite for brands aiming for Ecolabel or Nordic Swan certification.

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2. Key Physicochemical Characteristics

MGDA is favored in European manufacturing due to its robust performance under challenging conditions:

• Exceptional Solubility: It remains highly soluble even in cold water and concentrated alkaline systems.

• Broad pH Stability: MGDA maintains its sequestering power across a wide pH range (2.0 – 14.0), outperforming many organic acids.

• High Thermal Stability: It is stable at temperatures exceeding 200°C, making it suitable for high-temperature industrial washing and evaporation processes.

• Rapid Biodegradability: MGDA is classified as "Readily Biodegradable" according to OECD 301B standards, ensuring it breaks down quickly in wastewater treatment plants.

Technical Data Summary

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3. Core Application Fields

A. Automatic Dishwashing (ADW)

Since the EU ban on phosphates in consumer detergents, MGDA has become the primary builder in dishwasher tablets and liquids. It effectively prevents "spotting" and filming on glassware by controlling water hardness and removing tough food stains like protein and starch.

B. Industrial & Institutional (I&I) Cleaning

In the professional sector, MGDA is used for:

• CIP (Cleaning in Place): Removing scale in dairy and brewery equipment.

• Vehicle Care: Enhancing the performance of traffic film removers without damaging aluminum or specialized coatings.

C. Textile Processing

In the textile industry, MGDA prevents the interference of heavy metals during the dyeing process and stabilizes hydrogen peroxide in bleaching baths, ensuring consistent color quality and fabric strength.

D. Personal Care

MGDA serves as a skin-friendly stabilizer in shampoos and liquid soaps, boosting the effectiveness of preservatives and preventing the precipitation of fatty acid soaps in hard water.

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4. Why Partner with Yuanlian Chemical?

When sourcing MGDA-Na3, reliability and chemical purity are critical to your final product's shelf-life and performance. Yuanlian Chemical stands at the forefront of green chelation technology.

• Advanced Synthesis: Our MGDA-Na3 is produced via a low-impurity process, ensuring minimal residual by-products and consistent batch-to-batch quality.

• European Standard Compliance: We ensure our products meet the stringent safety and environmental requirements of the European market.

• Supply Chain Resilience: With optimized logistics and high-capacity production, Yuanlian Chemical provides stable supply for large-scale industrial consumers.

By choosing Yuanlian Chemical, you are not just buying a raw material; you are investing in a sustainable future. Our technical experts are available to assist you in reformulating your current products to meet the highest environmental standards without sacrificing cleaning power.

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Elevate your formulation's performance today. Would you like me to send you the Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or a sample of Yuanlian Chemical's MGDA-Na3 for your R&D trials?