(Un)suitability of the use of pH buffers in biological, biochemical and environmental studies and their interaction with metal ions - a review

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Ferreira, CMH (Author) Other; Pinto, ISS (Author) Other; Soares, EV (Author) Other; Helena Soares (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: RSC Advances

Vol. 5

Pages: 30989-31003

ISSN: 2046-2069

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 76 Citations

Scopus - 143 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-AZK

DOI: 10.1039/c4ra15453c

Abstract (EN): The use of buffers to maintain the pH within a desired range is a very common practice in chemical, biochemical and biological studies. Among them, zwitterionic N-substituted aminosulfonic acids, usually known as Good's buffers, although widely used, can complex metals and interact with biological systems. The present work reviews, discusses and updates the metal complexation characteristics of thirty one commercially available buffers. In addition, their impact on biological systems is also presented. The influences of these buffers on the results obtained in biological, biochemical and environmental studies, with special focus on their interaction with metal ions, are highlighted and critically reviewed. Using chemical speciation simulations, based on the current knowledge of the metal-buffer stability constants, a proposal of the most adequate buffer to employ for a given metal ion is presented.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15