Name: China Chemical Manufacturer Supply Top Purity Iron chelate with good service
Brand: Wuhan Fortuna Chemical Co., Ltd.

Items	Specifications	Results
Fe	≥20%	20.5%
Protein	≥15%	18.6%
Vitamin E	≥5 mg/kg	5.7 mg/kg
Vitamin D3	≥2000 IU/kg	2080 IU/kg
Salmonella	May not be detected	Without
To other bacteria	May not be detected	Without
Arsenic (As a total)	≤5 ppm	＜3 ppm
Lead (pb in total)	≤20 ppm	＜10 ppm
Conclusion	The product conforms to the above specifications.

In chemistry, an iron chelate is a complex compound in which an iron ion (Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺) is tightly bound to a chelating agent or ligand via multiple coordinate covalent bonds. The term "chelate" comes from the Greek word for "claw"—the ligand encircles and grasps the metal ion in a ring-like structure.

This chelation dramatically alters the properties of the free iron ion:

Prevents Precipitation: It keeps iron soluble and stable in aqueous solutions, especially at neutral or alkaline pH where free iron would normally form insoluble oxides/hydroxides (rust).
Modifies Reactivity: It controls the redox potential (ease of gaining/losing electrons) and chemical reactivity of the iron center.
Provides Defined Structure: Creates a specific molecular environment around the iron.

Common Chelating Agents used for Iron:

EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid): Forms a very strong, hexadentate (6-bond) complex. Common in lab reagents.
DTPA (Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid): Similar to EDTA but with higher affinity and stability.
Citrate: A weaker, naturally occurring chelator.
o-Phenanthroline, Bipyridine: Form intensely colored complexes, useful in analysis.
HEDTA, EDDHA, Gluconate: Used in specialized industrial and agricultural formulations.

Primary Uses in Chemical and Research Contexts

Chemical-grade iron chelates are employed as precise reagents and catalysts. Here are the key uses:

1. Analytical Chemistry:

Colorimetric Reagents: Certain iron chelates are intensely colored and used for quantitative analysis.

Example: Ferrozine and 1,10-phenanthroline form deep red/pink complexes with Fe²⁺. This allows for sensitive spectrophotometric measurement of iron concentration in water, biological samples, or industrial solutions.
Example: Ferric thiocyanate complex is used to test for the presence of phenols or peroxides.

Masking Agents: EDTA is used to chelate and mask interfering metal ions (like iron) in complexometric titrations or other analyses, preventing them from reacting.

2. Catalyst in Chemical Reactions & Research:
Iron chelates are pivotal in studying and catalyzing oxidation reactions due to their controlled redox activity.

Fenton and Fenton-like Reactions: Chelated iron (often Fe-EDTA) is used as a soluble catalyst for the generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (•OH) from hydrogen peroxide. This is studied for:

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs): For degrading organic pollutants in wastewater.
Biochemical Research: To study oxidative stress and radical damage in model systems.

Polymerization Catalysts: Some iron chelates act as catalysts or catalyst components in the production of polymers.
Organic Synthesis: Used as Lewis acid catalysts or in oxidation reactions where a specific iron redox state must be maintained.

3. Reagent in Material Science & Nanotechnology:

Precursor for Iron-Containing Materials: Iron chelates can be used as molecular precursors to deposit iron oxide films or create nanomaterials through controlled thermal decomposition (Chemical Vapor Deposition or sol-gel processes).
Model Compounds for Biological Systems: Synthetic iron chelates are used to model the active sites of iron-containing enzymes (e.g., peroxidases, oxygenases) to study their structure and function.

4. Standard Solutions and Buffer Additives:

Trace Metal Studies: A precisely prepared Fe-EDTA standard solution is used to calibrate instruments (like ICP-MS or AAS) and spike samples in trace metal analysis.
Biological Buffers: In laboratory cell culture and biochemistry, Transferrin (a natural iron chelating protein) or simple chelates like ferric citrate are used to deliver bioavailable iron to cells in a controlled, non-toxic manner, preventing iron-catalyzed free radical damage.

5. Industrial Process Chemistry:

Scrubbing Gases: Iron chelate solutions (e.g., Fe-EDTA) are used to remove harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from gas streams in a process called "chemi-sorption," where the chelated iron catalyzes the oxidation of H₂S to elemental sulfur.

Key Distinction: Chemical vs. Agricultural Grade

Feature	Chemical / Research Grade	Agricultural / Horticultural Grade
Purity	Very high (≥95-99.9%), well-defined composition.	Lower, contains stabilizers and fillers.
Purpose	Reagent, catalyst, analytical standard, research.	Soil/foliar fertilizer to treat iron chlorosis in plants.
Chelator	Often simple (EDTA, Citrate) for defined chemistry.	Engineered for soil stability (EDDHA, EDDHMA, DTPA).
Cost	Higher per unit weight.	Lower, sold in bulk.

Safety and Handling (Chemical Context)

Stability: Chelated iron is generally more stable and less prone to causing catalytic oxidative damage than free iron salts, but it still requires careful handling.
Environmental: While used to treat pollution, large quantities of synthetic chelates like EDTA are poorly biodegradable and can remobilize toxic heavy metals in the environment.
Laboratory Use: Standard lab safety applies—avoid inhalation of dust, contact with eyes/skin, and consult the specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Summary

In chemical terms, iron chelate is a versatile tool and reagent where the chelating ligand is chosen to give the iron center specific solubility, stability, redox potential, and reactivity. Its primary uses are in analytical chemistry as a reagent or mask, as a controlled catalyst in oxidation reactions, in material synthesis, and as a standardized source of iron for research and industrial processes.