Triton X-100

Triton X-100
Other names polyethylene glycol p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl ether, octyl phenol ethoxylate, polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether, 4-octylphenol polyethoxylate, Mono 30, TX-100, t-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, Octoxynol-9
Identifiers
CAS number	9002-93-1 Y
	Properties
Molecular formula	C 14H 22O(C 2H 4O)n (n = 9-10)
Molar mass	647 g mol-1
Appearance	viscous colourless liquid
Density	1.07 g/cm3
Melting point	6 °C
Boiling point	270 °C
Solubility in water	Soluble
Vapor pressure	< 1 mmHg (130 Pa) at 20 °C
Refractive index (nD)	1.490-1.494[1]
Hazards
MSDS	MSDS
Flash point	251 °C; 484 °F; 524 K
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Triton X-100 (C
14H
22O(C
2H
4O)_n) is a nonionic surfactant that has a hydrophilic polyethylene oxide chain (on average it has 9.5 ethylene oxide units) and an aromatic hydrocarbon lipophilic or hydrophobic group. The hydrocarbon group is a 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl group. It is closely related to IGEPAL CA-630 or erstwhile Nonidet P-40, which might differ from it mainly in having slightly shorter ethylene oxide units. Thus Triton X-100 is slightly more hydrophilic than Igepal CA-630; these two detergents may not be considered to be functionally interchangeable for most applications.^[2] Triton X-100 was originally a registered trademark of Rohm & Haas Co. It was subsequently purchased by Union Carbide and then acquired by Dow Chemical Company upon the acquisition of Union Carbide. Soon afterward (in 2009), Dow also acquired Rohm & Haas Co. Other trademarks for very similar compounds include Conco NI, Dowfax 9N, Igepal CO, Makon, Neutronyx 600's, Nonipol NO, Plytergent B, Renex 600's, Solar NO, Sterox, Serfonic N, T-DET-N, Tergitol NP, Triton N etc.^[3]

Triton X detergents are distantly related to Pluronic range of detergents marketed by BASF. The pluronics are triblock copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide with the ethylene oxide segments being more hydrophilic than the propylene oxide.

Physical properties

Undiluted Triton X-100 is a clear viscous fluid (but less viscous than undiluted glycerol) owing to the hydrogen bonding of its hydrophilic polyethylene oxide parts. Undiluted Triton X-100 has a viscosity of about 270 centipoise at 125°C which comes down to 30 centipoise at 10°C. Triton X-100 is soluble at 25°C in water, toluene, xylene, trichloroethylene, ethylene glycol, ethyl ether, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene dichloride, but unless a coupling agent like oleic acid is used, Triton X-100 is insoluble in kerosene, mineral spirits, and VM&P naphtha.^[4]

Uses

Triton X-100 is a commonly used detergent in laboratories.^[5] Some applications include

• Ingredient in influenza vaccine (Fluzone)^[6]
• Permeabilizing unfixed (or lightly fixed) eukaryotic cell membranes
• Solubilizing membrane proteins in their native state in conjunction with zwitterionic detergents such as CHAPS
• Part of the lysis buffer (usually in a 5% solution in alkaline lysis buffer) in DNA extraction
• Reducing surface tension of aqueous solutions during immunostaining (usually at a concentration of 0.1-0.5% in TBS or PBS Buffer)
• Dispersion of carbon materials for soft composite materials
• Restricting colony expansion in Aspergillus nidulans in microbiology
• Decellularization of animal-derived tissues

Apart from laboratory use, Triton X-100 can be found in several types of cleaning compounds,^[7] ranging from heavy-duty industrial products to gentle detergents. It is also a popular ingredient in homemade vinyl record cleaning fluids together with distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. It is a good micellar catalyst.

See also

Detergents, Surfactants, Ingredients in Influenza vaccine (Fluzone) ^[8]

References

External links

• List of different available Triton x (other octylphenol ethoxylates) detergents
• Triton on OpenWetWare biologists' wiki
• Influenza Vaccines Including Triton X-100