Bicine， N, N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) glycine, as a commonly used biological buffering agent, plays an important role in experiments such as biochemistry and molecular biology. It has good water solubility, stable pH buffering capacity, and no toxicity to biomolecules, which can provide a stable pH environment for experiments. However, during the preparation process of Bicine buffer, oxidation and yellowing often occur, which not only affects the appearance of the buffer but may also have adverse effects on the experimental results. Understanding the causes of oxidation and mastering methods to avoid it is the key to successfully preparing Bicine buffer solution.

Bicine powder

Analysis of the reasons for the oxidation and yellowing of Bicine buffer solution

Bicine molecular structure contains hydroxyl groups and other easily oxidizable functional groups, which are prone to undergo oxidation reactions with oxygen when in contact with air. When Bicine buffer is exposed to air, oxygen in the air gradually interacts with Bicine molecules, causing structural changes and generating some colored oxidation products, resulting in the buffer turning yellow. In addition, during the preparation process of Bicine buffer, if the container used is not cleaned thoroughly, residual metal ions (such as iron ions, copper ions, etc.) may catalyze and accelerate the oxidation process of Bicine, causing the buffer to turn yellow faster.

Three methods to prevent Bicine buffer from oxidizing and turning yellow

（1） Optimize the configuration environment and operation process

1. Use clean containers: Before preparing Bicine buffer, be sure to clean the containers used (such as beakers, measuring cylinders, volumetric flasks, etc.). First, clean the container with detergent to remove oil stains and impurities from the surface, and then rinse it clean with deionized water. Avoid using containers containing residual metal ions. Glass or plastic containers that have undergone strict cleaning and drying treatment can be used to reduce the catalytic effect of metal ions on Bicine oxidation.

2. Reduce air contact time: Bicine should minimize its contact time with air during dissolution and preparation. Bicine can be quickly dissolved by adding it in batches, avoiding prolonged stirring that may cause the solution to mix thoroughly with air. When transferring the solution, the action should be rapid and the exposure time of the solution to the air should be minimized as much as possible.

（2） Avoid light storage and use

1. Storage in a dark container: After preparing Bicine buffer solution, it should be immediately transferred to a dark container for storage. Brown glass bottles are commonly used opaque containers that can block ultraviolet and visible light, reducing the oxidation of Bicine by light. If there is no brown glass bottle, ordinary transparent containers can also be used, but the container needs to be stored to avoid light. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the container is well sealed to prevent air from entering and further reduce the possibility of oxidation.

2. Use under dark conditions: When conducting experiments using Bicine buffer, try to operate under dark conditions as much as possible. For some long-term experiments, the experimental setup can be placed in a dark box or a light shielded experimental cabinet to avoid prolonged exposure of the buffer solution to light. If the experiment needs to be conducted under lighting conditions, one can choose to complete the experiment in a shorter period of time or use a smaller amount of buffer to reduce the impact of lighting on the buffer.

Product packaging

In the field of biological buffering agents, Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. has profound technical accumulation and rich production experience. The Bicine products produced by the company have high purity and low impurity content, reducing the risk of buffer oxidation and yellowing caused by raw material impurities from the source. At the same time, Xindesheng strictly controls the production process and adopts advanced production technology and equipment to ensure the quality stability of Bicine products.

With a professional R&D team and a comprehensive quality inspection system, the company can provide customers with reliable Bicine products and related technical support. Whether conducting experiments in scientific research institutions or large-scale production in enterprises, Hubei Xindesheng's Bicine products can meet the needs of different users, winning the trust of many customers with stable quality and good performance. If you have any purchasing needs, please feel free to click on the website for consultation at any time!