The families of biological buffers
Biological buffers can be divided into 6 families according to their structures. Each of these families has different characteristics, especially on what concerns interactions with metals.
In this post we separate the most common biological buffers according to their families and main characteristics.
| Family 1 | Description | Buffers | pH range |
|
Acetamido family |
Known to form complexes with most of the common metals. |
ADA | 6.0 - 7.2 |
| ACES | 6.1 - 7.5 | ||
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| Family 2 | Description | Buffers | pH range |
|
Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) amine family |
Known to form complexes with various metals. Not suitable for environmental and biological studies containing metals. |
Bis-Tris | 5.8 - 7.2 |
| BES | 6.4 - 7.8 | ||
| DIPSO | 7.0 - 8.2 | ||
| TEA | 7.3 - 8.3 | ||
| Bicine | 7.6 - 9.0 | ||
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Family 3 |
Description |
Buffers | pH range |
|
Cyclohexylamino family |
Not suitable for environmental and biological studies due to its buffering range (pH between 8.6 and 11.4), except in cases in which a higher pH is desired. Does not form any considerable complex with metals. |
CHES | 8.6 - 10.0 |
| CAPSO | 8.9 - 10.3 | ||
| CAPS | 9.7 - 11.1 | ||
| CABS | 10.0 - 11.4 | ||
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Family 4 |
Description |
Buffers | pH range |
|
Morpholinic family |
All the buffers in this family are N-substituted aminosulfonic acids with a morpholinic ring. Suitable for use in solutions that contain metal ions. Not suitable for the investigation of redox processes. |
MES | 5.5 - 6.7 |
| MOPSO | 6.2 - 7.6 | ||
| MOPS | 6.5 - 7.9 | ||
| MOBS | 6.9 - 8.3 | ||
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Family 5 |
Description |
Buffers | pH range |
|
Piperazinic family |
All the buffers in this family contain a piperazinic ring. They usually do not form complexes with most of the common metals. Suitable for use in environmental, analytical and biological studies (especially HEPES and PIPES). Usually not suitable for reduction-oxidation studies. |
PIPES | 6.1 - 7.5 |
| HEPES | 6.8 - 8.2 | ||
| POPSO | 7.2 - 8.5 | ||
| HEPPS / EPPS | 7.3 - 8.7 | ||
| HEPPSO | 7.1 - 8.5 | ||
| HEPBS | 7.6 - 9.0 | ||
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Family 6 |
Description |
Buffers | pH range |
|
Tris family |
Known to form complexes with various metals. Widely used in electrophoresis. Not recommended for the study of the metabolic effects of insulin. |
Tris | 7.2 - 9.0 |
| TES | 6.8 - 8.2 | ||
| TAPSO | 7.0 - 8.2 | ||
| TAPS | 7.7 - 9.1 | ||
| TABS | 8.2 - 9.6 | ||
| Tricine | 7.4 - 8.8 | ||
| BTP | 6.3 - 9.5 | ||
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Further reading:What is a Good's Buffer?
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Reference:
Ferreira CM, Pinto IS, Soares, EV, Soares HM (2015) (Un)suitability of the use of pH buffers in biological, biochemical and environmental studies and its interaction with metal ions – a review, Royal Society of Chemistry 30989-31003. Available at https://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/bitstream/1822/38712/1/document_19948_1.pdf
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