Overview
Sodium borate buffer is a fundamental laboratory reagent composed of sodium borate (borax) and boric acid in aqueous solution. It serves as an alkaline buffer system, maintaining stable pH levels between 8.0 and 9.2, which is critical for many biochemical processes. The buffer is valued for its simple preparation, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with biological samples. First introduced in the early 20th century, borate buffers gained prominence for their unique ability to stabilize pH in alkaline ranges where many biological reactions occur. Unlike phosphate buffers, borate systems exhibit minimal interference with metal ions, making them preferable for enzymatic studies and nucleic acid applications.
Physical and Chemical Properties
The buffer typically consists of 0.05-0.2M sodium tetraborate (Na₂B₄O₇) adjusted with boric acid (H₃BO₃) to achieve target pH. Its alkaline nature stems from borate ions (B₄O₇²⁻) that form complexes with hydroxyl groups. The solution has low ionic strength, reducing interference in electrophoretic separations. Key advantages include thermal stability (usable up to 60°C) and resistance to microbial growth due to borate's mild antiseptic properties. Unlike Tris-based buffers, borate maintains consistent pH over time with minimal CO₂ absorption effects. However, it may chelate certain divalent cations (e.g., Mg²⁺), requiring consideration in metal-dependent experiments.
Main Applications
In molecular biology, sodium borate buffer is indispensable for agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA/RNA, where its alkaline conditions facilitate nucleic acid separation. It's also used in capillary electrophoresis and Western blotting procedures. The buffer's compatibility with antibody-antigen interactions makes it ideal for ELISA and other immunoassays. Industrial applications include pharmaceutical formulation stability testing and as a component in cleaning solutions where alkaline conditions are required. In histology, borate buffers help preserve tissue samples during processing. Recent research explores its use in fuel cell membranes and nanoparticle synthesis due to borate's unique coordination chemistry.
Safety and Storage
While generally low-risk at working concentrations (≤0.2M), concentrated borate solutions can cause eye/skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress if ingested. Always consult SDS sheets and wear gloves/eye protection when handling. Borate may be toxic to plants at high concentrations, requiring proper disposal. Storage is straightforward - room temperature in plastic or glass containers with tight lids prevents evaporation. Prepared solutions remain stable for 6-12 months unless contamination occurs. For long-term storage, some labs add 0.02% sodium azide as a preservative. Frozen aliquots can extend shelf life for sensitive applications.
B2B Procurement Guide
For research institutions, pre-mixed borate buffer solutions (sterile/non-sterile) are available from major lab suppliers like Sigma-Aldrich and Thermo Fisher. Industrial buyers should specify USP/EP grade for pharmaceutical use or technical grade for manufacturing processes. Bulk procurement (100L+) often reduces costs by 30-50%. Key specifications include: pH tolerance (±0.1 units), endotoxin levels (for cell culture), and absence of RNase/DNase (for molecular biology). Some manufacturers offer customized formulations with added salts or stabilizers. For ISO-certified facilities, ensure suppliers provide full traceability documentation and COAs for each batch.
Related Manufacturers
- 主营：透析袋、移液器、SIGMA、赛默飞、爱思进、康宁、离心管、巴氏吸管、保存管、封板膜、细胞爬片、滤器、ELISA试剂盒
- 主营：透析袋、移液器、SIGMA、赛默飞、爱思进、吸头/枪头、离心管、巴氏吸管、保存管、封板膜、细胞爬片、滤器、ELISA试剂盒
- 主营：生物dna、dna病毒、dna回收、硼酸钠缓冲液、植物dna、dna产物、基因组dna、小提试剂盒、提取试剂盒、两步法细菌、离心柱式血液、酵母质粒提取、蛋白浓度测定、细胞增殖检测
- 主营：草铵膦、恶霜灵、雌酚酮、硼酸钠缓冲液、溴虫腈、标准品、氟环唑、苯甲酸、大观霉素、恶唑菌酮、异丙氧磷、多拉菌素、氘代甲苯、呋喃西林、氟罗沙星、3-二氯丙烯、吡氟氯禾灵、二氯吡啶酸、二甲基吗啉、一氯二溴甲烷、硝基呋喃妥因
- 主营：无水乙醇、乙酸乙酯、磷酸、四硼酸钠、甲醇、乙二醇、二氯甲烷、异丙醇、二甲苯、各种化学试剂、化工原料
- 主营：硫酸铜、指示液、铁离子、缓冲液、锰离子、镁离子、硫酸镁、碘化钾、氯化钠、氯离子、蒸馏水、葡萄糖、氯化物、碳酸钠、钛离子、储备液、四苯硼钠、标准溶液、甲醛试纸、氢氧化钾、缓冲溶液、磷表试剂、草酸试剂、硫代乙酰胺、电脑水冷液
- 主营：草酸、柠檬酸、尿素、防腐剂硼酸缓冲液、氟硅酸钠
- 主营：环氧环己烷、异丙叉丙酮、四甲基氢氧化铵、四硼酸钠标准溶液、双乙烯酮、均苯四甲酸二酐、三聚甲醛、氯甲基三氯硅烷、双季戊四醇、五水合四甲基氢氧化铵、月桂酸钠、二苯甲酮、聚硫橡胶、邻氯溴苯、水杨羟肟酸、甲基纤维素、甲基丙烯酸十八酯、氨基磺酸、硫氢化钠、甲基磺酸、吐温、司盘、芥酸pko、pko-e
- 主营：染色液、感受态、滴定法、试剂盒、鸡血清、保存液、赖氨酸、脯氨酸、抗凝牛、猫血清、苏木素、巴氏法、缬氨酸、乙酸锂、类器官、青霉素、无酚红、苏氨酸、添加剂、色氨酸、酪氨酸、pbs干粉、噻唑蓝、硫酸镁、鲑鱼精
- 主营：染色液、乙氨酸、噻唑兰、te缓冲液、pbs缓冲液、mes缓冲液、喷雾剂、封片剂、清除剂、试剂盒、研试剂、转膜液、dpph试剂、page凝胶、检测溶液、核酸染料、中性树胶、胰蛋白酶、纤维素酶、染色试剂、faa固定液、甲苯胺蓝、生化试剂、实验试剂、ctab抽提液