Abstract: The present invention relates to a biodegradable amino-carboxylic acid chelating agent which comprises a compound of the following formula (1) and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, maleic acid, acrylic acid, malic acid, glycine, glycolic acid, iminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, &agr;-alanine, &bgr;-alanine, imino-dipropionic acid, fumaric acid, a synthetic starting amino acid and a synthetic intermediate amino acid and a salt thereof in an amount of 8% by weight or less based on the compound of the formula (1): wherein R1 represents hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon group of 1-20 carbon atoms, R2 represents hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon group of 1-8 carbon atoms, R1 and R2 may form a ring together, the substituent which can be present in R1 and R2 is at least one member selected from the group consisting of —OH, —CO2M and —SO3M where M represents hydrogen or an alkali metal; X r

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biodegradable amino-carboxylic acid chelating agent excellent in biodegradability and for use as a chelating agent, which is in the form of a solid, aqueous solution or slurry excellent in handling ability, wherein the chelating agent comprises a detergent composition having excellent detergency and high biodegradability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biodegradable chelating agent which comprises a compound of the following formula [1] and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, maleic acid, acrylic acid, malic acid, glycine, glycolic acid, iminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, &bgr;-alanine, &bgr;-alanine, iminodipropionic acid, fumaric acid, a synthetic starting amino acid and a synthetic intermediate amino acid and a salt thereof in an amount of 8% by weight or less based on the compound of the formula [1]: 1

Abstract: Disclosed is a biodegradable chelating agent which comprises a compound of the following formula [1] and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, maleic acid, acrylic acid, malic acid, glycine, glycolic acid, iminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, &agr;-alanine, &bgr;-alanine, iminodipropionic acid, fumaric acid, a synthetic starting amino acid and a synthetic intermediate amino acid and a salt thereof in an amount of 8% by weight or less based on the compound of the formula [1]: 1

Abstract: Disclosed is a biodegradable chelating agent which comprises a compound of the following formula [1] and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, maleic acid, acrylic acid, malic acid, glycine, glycolic acid, iminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, &agr;-alanine, &agr;-alanine, iminodipropionic acid, fumaric acid, a synthetic starting amino acid and a synthetic intermediate amino acid and a salt thereof in an amount of 8% by weight or less based on the compound of the formula [1]: wherein R1, R2, X and Y are defined.

Abstract: Aspartic acid is reacted with prussic acid and formaldehyde to give an amino-polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof represented by-the following formula: ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or an ammonium group; and each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom or --CH.sub.2 --COOR.sup.1, provided that R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 do not represent a hydrogen atom simultaneously. The amino-polycarboxylic acid which is readily biodegradable and has an excellent chelating ability can be obtained from aspartic acid in a high yield and in a high purity.