PIPES

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This page is about the biochemical buffer PIPES. For information about other pipes, see Pipe.

PIPES
IUPAC name	1,4-Piperazinediethanesulfonic acid (IUPAC)
Other names	PIPES
Identifiers
CAS number	[5625-37-6]
Properties
Molecular formula	C8H18N2O6S2
Molar mass	302.37
Appearance	White powder
Melting point	Decomposes above 300°C
Boiling point	Decomposes
Solubility in water	1 g/L (100°C)
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
Main hazards	Irritant
NFPA 704	0 1 0
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

PIPES is the common name for piperazine-N,N′-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid), a frequently used buffering agent in biochemistry. It is an ethanesulfonic acid buffer developed by Good et al in the 1960's.^[1]

[edit] Applications

PIPES has pKa near the physiological pH which makes it useful in cell culture work. PIPES has been documented minimizing lipid loss when buffering glutaraldehyde histology in plant and animal tissues.^[2][3] Fungal zoospore fixation for fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy were optimized with a combination of glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde in PIPES buffer.^[4] It has a negligible capacity to bind divalent ions.

[edit] References

1. ^ Good, N.E. et al., Biochemistry, 5, 456-477 (1966).
2. ^ Salema, R. and Brando, I., J. Submicr. Cytol., 9, 79 (1973).
3. ^ Schiff, R.I. and Gennaro, J.F., Scaning Electron Microsc., 3, 449 (1979).
4. ^ Hardham, A.R., J. Histochem., 33, 110 (1985).

[edit] External Links

Sigma Aldrich Buffer Calculator - Useful tool to calculate weight, volume, or concentration from molecular weight.