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BASF’s Trilon M Chelate Earns DfE Certification

First to meet criteria for chelating, sequestering agents.

BASF’s Care Chemicals Division announced that Trilon M chelate has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) certification program.

Trilon M is the first product to meet the DfE criteria for chelating and sequestering agents. The criteria was developed by chelating agent manufacturers, cleaning product formulators, environmental non-governmental organizations, certification groups, academia, and industry associations.

Trilon M, methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), effectively binds calcium and magnesium ions and is readily biodegradable. The key advantage of Trilon M is its ability to be used as an eco-friendly builder, replacing phosphates in cleaning compositions, such as automatic dishwashing products, according to BASF.


Phosphates were banned from consumer automatic dishwashing detergents in 16 states in 2010. Since being introduced to the market, many global manufacturers of automatic dishwashing tabs, powders, and sachets, have already replaced phosphates in their formulations with Trilon M.

“Trilon M contributes to our customers’ long term success by offering an innovative solution for a very challenging market need,” said Gary Dee, Director, BASF Home and Personal Care Division.

Trilon M is listed on CleanGredients, theonline database that provides formulators with information about the environmental and human health attributes of cleaning product ingredient chemicals. Trilon® M can also be included in cleaning products eligible for recognition under the DfE Safer Product Labeling Program.

Due to an increasing demand of Trilon M, BASF expanded production in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Recently BASF rolled out Trilon M Granules, Second Generation (SG), a new solid version with better handling and processing properties, especially for production of automatic dishwashing (ADW) tabs and powders. Trilon M is available globally in liquid and several solid forms.

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