Boiling Water with Disodium EDTA, pH, and Vitamin E as Preservative
Asked by: himyangel
On: October 08, 2014
Product Type:
Cosmetics
Question
I have the following questions:
- Can water that has been mixed with disodium EDTA be boiled again if I am concerned about cleanliness (e.g., a child almost drank it)?
- Is the acidity (pH) of distilled water the same as water that has been mixed with disodium EDTA?
- Is using only Vitamin E (Natural Vitamin E Mixed Tocopherols (COVI-OX® T-50)) sufficient as a preservative? I prefer not to use other chemical preservatives.
Answer
Based on the staff's reply, here are the answers to your questions:
- Can water with disodium EDTA be boiled again? Yes, you can boil the water again without any issues if you are concerned about cleanliness.
- Acidity of distilled water vs. water with disodium EDTA: Water with disodium EDTA will be slightly more acidic than distilled water because disodium EDTA is acidic. However, the difference is usually small as it's added in very low concentrations (typically 0.1-0.2%).
- Is Vitamin E sufficient as a preservative? No, Vitamin E (like Natural Vitamin E Mixed Tocopherols) is an antioxidant, not a preservative. It helps prevent spoilage caused by oxidation (especially in oils), but it does not prevent spoilage caused by microbial growth (bacteria, mold, etc.). To prevent microbial spoilage, you need to use a preservative. Storing products in the refrigerator can slow down microbial growth but is not a complete substitute for a preservative.