موپس

MOPS (3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid) is a zwitterionic buffering agent widely used in biological and biochemical research to maintain stable pH in solutions. It belongs to the MES buffer family and is particularly effective in the pH range of 6.5 to 7.9.

🏭⚗️ Production
MOPS is synthesized chemically by reacting morpholine with propane sultone under controlled conditions. It is commercially available as a white crystalline powder, which is soluble in water. Buffers are typically prepared by dissolving MOPS powder in distilled water and adjusting pH with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid as needed.

🔬 Properties
MOPS is a zwitterion, meaning it has both positive and negative charges but is overall neutral. It is highly soluble in water, with minimal absorption in UV, making it suitable for spectroscopic studies. It has a pKa around 7.2 at 25°C, providing excellent buffering capacity near physiological pH. MOPS is stable and does not easily permeate cell membranes, reducing interference in biological assays.

🧪 Applications
• Biological research: Commonly used to maintain pH in cell culture media, enzymatic reactions, and protein purification.
• Molecular biology: Used in electrophoresis buffers and nucleic acid handling to stabilize pH.
• Biochemistry: Supports enzymatic assays requiring a stable neutral pH environment.
• Pharmaceutical development: Employed in formulation buffers to ensure drug stability.
• Analytical chemistry: Utilized in pH-sensitive assays and spectrophotometric measurements.