Glutaraldehyde

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Properties**
General
Name	Glutaraldehyde

Chemical formula	C₅H₈O₂
Molecular weight	100.117 amu
Synonyms	Sellatan CF new; Glutaraldehyde; Pentanedial; Glutural; Aldesan; Aldesen; Alhydex; Cidex; Glutardialdehyde; Glutaric acid dialdehyde; Glutaric aldehyde; Glutaric dialdehyde; Hospex; Sonacide; 1,5-Pentanedial; 1,5-Pentanedione; component of Cidex; Glutaraldehyd; Glutarol; NCI-C55425; Ucarcide; Aqucar; Ucarset; Glutarex 28; Relugan GT; Relugan GT 50; Sporicidin; Cidex 7; Ucarcide 250; Relugan GTW; Glutaclean; Sterihyde; 1,3-Diformylpropane; Coldcide-25 microbiocide; Dioxopentane; Glutaralum; Gluteraldehyde; Novaruca; Pentane-1,5-dial; Potentiated acid glutaraldehyde; Protectol GDA, GT 50; Ucarcide 225; Veruca-sep; Polycycloglutaracetal
CAS number	111-30.8
UN number	2810
Phase behavior
Melting point	267 K (-6°C)
Boiling point	374 K (101°C)
Solubility	Miscible with water, alcohol, benzene.
Liquid properties
Density	1.06 ×10³ kg/m³
More info
Properties	NIST WebBook
MSDS	Hazardous Chemical Information
MSDS	Ladd Research MSDS
SI units were used where possible. Unless otherwise stated, standard conditions were used. Disclaimer and references

Glutaraldehyde is a colourless liquid with a pungent odor used to sterilize medical and dental equipment. It is also used for industrial water treatment and as a chemical preservative. However, it is toxic, causing severe eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, along with headaches, drowsiness and dizziness.

Glutaraldehyde is an oily liquid at room temperature (density 1.06 g/mL), and miscible with water, alcohol, and benzene. It is used as a tissue fixative in electron microscopy. It is employed as embalming fluid, is a component of leather tanning solutions, and occurs as an intermediate in the production of certain industrial chemicals. Glutaraldehyde is frequently used in biochemistry applications as an amine-reactive homobifunctional crosslinker. The oligomeric state of proteins can be examined through this application.

An isomer of glutaraldehyde has recently been developed by Seachem Laboratories, Inc. as a fertilizer for aquatic plants by providing a source of organic carbon. It is marketed under the name Flourish Excel.

Monomeric glutaraldehyde can polymerize by aldol condensation reaction yielding alpha,beta-unsaturated poly-glutaraldehyde. This reaction usually occurs at alkaline pH values.

[edit] Uses

Glutaraldehyde solution of 0.1 to 1.0% concentration may be used for system disinfection and as a preservative for long term storage.Some of gluteraldehyde's additional uses are in Electron Microscopy. It is used to fix specimen like bacteria, plant material, human blood cells etc. to make it ready for electron microscopy. It kills cells extremely quickly. This is usually done before the dehydration process.