Hydrolyzed nitrilotriacetonitrile compositions, nitrilotriacetonitrile hydrolysis formulations and methods for making and using same

A method for hydrolyzing nitrilotriacetonitrile comprising:

• adding an amount of nitrilotriacetonitrile (NTAN) to a solution including an acid catalyst in a single or bulk addition with agitation to form a reaction mixture,
• hydrolyzing the NTAN in the reaction mixture with agitation for a period of time no more than about 1 hour with no external heating,
• after or concurrent with the hydrolyzing, adjusting a pH of the reaction mixture to a pH of at least 8 to form a crude hydrolyzed NTAN composition,
• contacting the crude hydrolyzed NTAN composition with an effective amount of an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to minimize a concentration of free cyanide in the crude hydrolyzed NTAN composition to a desired low level to form a final hydrolyzed NTAN composition having the desired low free cyanide level, and
• adjusting the pH of the final hydrolyzed NTAN to a pH between about 5 and about 7,
• where the method produces a reproducible low free cyanide hydrolyzed NTAN composition.