Patent ID: 10472320

Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process to prepare N,N′-di(2-hydroxybenzyl) ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid and salts thereof (HBED) comprising a reaction between formaldehyde, ethylenediamine diacetic acid or a salt thereof (EDDA) and phenol, wherein the reaction mixture contains 0.2 to 1.1 molar equivalents of alkali metal ions on the basis of the molar amount of EDDA and the reaction mixture is processed by a step in which at least part of the organic compounds other than the formed HBED are removed from the reaction mixture, and optionally recycled, during which step at least 50% and up to and including 100% of the alkali metal ions in the reaction mixture are potassium ions, to products obtainable by such process and their use.