Nitrilotriacetic Acid is a white sand-like powder. It is used as a binder in detergents, a chelating agent for soaps, in the purification of rare-earth elements, and in water treatment.
Nitriloacetic acid can cause eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation; and can cause kidney and bladder damage. The compound is anticipated to have the potential to cause human cancers.
Nitrilotriacetic acid is commercially available as the free acid and as the sodium salt. It is produced from ammonia, formaldehyde, and sodium cyanide or hydrogen cyanide.