Method of forming a chelating composition

A method of forming a chelating composition, said method comprising the steps of:

• combining monosodium glutamate and/or glutamic acid with formaldehyde to form a first combination;
• adding hydrogen cyanide to the first combination to form a second combination comprising a monosodium salt of glutamic acid diacetonitrile, a cyclic GLMN, and a sodium salt of glutamic acid N,N′-monoacetonitrile,
• maintaining a temperature of the second combination at less than about 16° C. and a pH of less than about 7;
• and
• converting nitrile groups of the monosodium salt of glutamic acid diacetonitrile to carboxylate groups thereby forming the chelating composition comprising water and at least about 47 weight percent of the tetrasodium salt of glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid based on a total weight of the chelating composition as determined using an Fe-Total Sequestering Value, wherein the chelating composition has a pH of greater than about 9 and a viscosity of less than about 1350 mPa·s measured at about 5° C. or less than 350 mPa·s measured at about 20° C. using a Brookfield DV II plus viscometer with spindle S18 and a temperature controlled bath, and wherein a reaction yield of MSG after conversion into the nitrile groups of the monosodium salt of GLDN followed by saponification to form the tetrasodium salt of glutamic N,N-diacetic acid is at least about 91%.