A new high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) is presented. Free EDDS(4-) and EDDS complexes with divalent metals undergo conversion to the Fe(III) complex in the presence of Fe(III)Cl(3). Fe(III)EDDS is separated by HPLC on an ion exchange column using (NH(4))(2)SO(4) eluent with detection at 258 nm. The detection limit is 0.01 microM. The method is applied to natural waters and soil solution samples. A background of natural water results in a reduction in EDDS peak area. The method is suited for EDDS analysis in samples with well-defined, simple matrices such as those used in laboratory experiments or biodegradation studies.