biostudies-literatureRohnelt AMDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)2438https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11897348biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)Diethylenetriamine penta(methylenephosphonate) (DTPMP) and related aminopolyphosphonates (APPs) are widely used as chelating agents in household and industrial applications. Recent studies have linked APP emissions to elevated levels of the herbicide glyphosate in European surface waters. However, the transformation processes and products of APPs in the environment are largely unknown. We show that glyphosate is formed from DTPMP by reaction with manganese at near neutral pH in pure water and in wastewater. Dissolved Mn²⁺ and O₂ or suspended MnO₂ lead to the formation of glyphosate, which remains stable after complete DTPMP conversion. Glyphosate yields vary with the reaction conditions and reach up to 0.42 mol%. The ubiquitous presence of manganese in natuNature communicationsGlyphosate is a transformation product of a widely used aminopolyphosphonate complexing agent.PMC11897348BU 782/2-1HA 3453/17-1Schmidt TCHaderlein SBAthmer MKarst URohnelt AMHuhn CBieger SBuchner DMartin PRfalseGlyphosate is a transformation product of a widely used aminopolyphosphonate complexing agent.Diethylenetriamine penta(methylenephosphonate) (DTPMP) and related aminopolyphosphonates (APPs) are widely used as chelating agents in household and industrial applications. Recent studies have linked APP emissions to elevated levels of the herbicide glyphosate in European surface waters. However, the transformation processes and products of APPs in the environment are largely unknown. We show that glyphosate is formed from DTPMP by reaction with manganese at near neutral pH in pure water and in wastewater. Dissolved Mn²⁺ and O₂ or suspended MnO₂ lead to the formation of glyphosate, which remains stable after complete DTPMP conversion. Glyphosate yields vary with the reaction conditions and reach up to 0.42 mol%. The ubiquitous presence of manganese in natu2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2025-04-03T23:56:50.222Z2025-04-03T23:56:50.222ZS-EPMC118973484006918210.1038/s41467-025-57473-7