IDHA/HBED

Our chelating agents make our unique fertilisers possible.

IDHA chelating agent

– The superb outcome of many years of ADOB®’s inhouse research and development, coupled with intensive cooperation with Bayer AG.
– Protected by the global ADOB® & Bayer patent.
– A five-ligand chelating agent, consisting of four carboxyl donor groups and one amino donor group.
– Forms di- and tri-valent rings of five and six elements when completing its coordination with a cation. The ligand has two chiral carbons and forms stable chelates which are used extensively in agriculture.
– All isomers undergo complete biodegradation, making IDHA the first-ever highly effective biodegradable agent.

HBED chelating agent

– A six-ligand chelating agent, consisting of six donor groups: two hydroxyl groups derived from phenols, two tertiary nitrogens and two carboxyl donors.
– The ligand does not have chiral carbons so does not form optical isomers.
– The most stable and effective chelating agent used in agriculture. Thanks to its high affinity to trivalent ions, it forms an Fe(III)HBED chelate featuring the current highest stability constant (log K= 39).
– The production process is protected by the global ADOB® patent.

Spatial structure of IDHA
C – carbon, N – nitrogen, H – hydrogen, Fe – iron, O – oxygen

Spatial structure of HBED
C – carbon, N – nitrogen, H – hydrogen, Fe – iron, O – oxygen

Regulation No. 2003/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13th October 2003 relating to fertilisers, along with later amendments, specifies chelating agents approved for use in fertilisers in the European Union. Among the listed chelating agents there are two ADOB patents.
The chelating agents approved for use in fertilisers in the European Union

Biodegradation of chelates depending on the chelating agent