Buffer List

Name	Useful pH Range (pKa1)	Useful pH Range (pKa2)	Useful pH Range (pKa3)	Note
Maleate	1.2 - 2.6	5.5 - 7.2		Absorbs in UV range
Phosphate	1.7 - 2.9	5.8 - 8.0		Inhibits some enzymes, precipitates with divalent cations, pKa affected by dilution
Glycine	2.2 - 3.6	8.6 - 10.6
Gly-Gly	2.5 - 3.8	7.5 - 8.9		Binds Cu2+
Malate	2.7 - 4.2	4.0 - 6.0
Formate	3.0 - 4.5
Succinate	3.2 - 5.2	5.5 - 6.5
Acetate	3.6 - 5.6
Phthalate	4.1 - 5.9
Pyridine	4.9 - 5.9
Citrate	2.2 - 6.5	3.0 - 6.2	5.5 - 7.2	Binds some proteins and metals
MES	5.5 - 6.7
Bis-Tris	5.8 - 7.2
ADA	6.0 - 7.2			Absorbs UV under 260 nm, binds metal ions
Cacodylate	5.0 - 7.4			Toxic
ACES	6.1 - 7.5			Absorbs UV at 230 nm, binds Cu2+
PIPES	6.1 - 7.5			Can form radicals
MOPSO	6.2 - 7.6
Imidazole	6.2 - 7.8			Forms complexes with divalent cations
BES	6.4 - 7.8			Binds Cu2+
MOPS	6.5 - 7.9			Degrades when autoclaved with glucose
Carbonate	6.0 - 8.0	9.5 - 11.1		Equilibrates with CO2
TES	6.8 - 8.2			Binds Cu2+
HEPES	6.8 - 8.2			Can form radicals
DIPSO	7.8 - 8.2
TAPSO	7.0 - 8.2
Triethanolamine	7.3 - 8.3
MOBS	6.9 - 8.3
POPSO	7.2 - 8.5
HEPPSO	7.1 - 8.5			Can form radicals
EPPS	7.3 - 8.7			Can form radicals
Tricine	7.4 - 8.8			Binds Cu2+
Tris	7.0 - 9.0			Highly temperature sensitive, affected by dilution, forms Schiff's base with aldehydes and ketones
Bicine	7.6 - 9.0			Binds Cu2+
HEPBS	7.6 - 9.0
TAPS	7.7 - 9.1
Barbital	6.8 - 9.2
Bis-Tris Propane	6.3 - 9.5
Taurine	8.4 - 9.6
TABS	8.2 - 9.6
AMPD	7.8 - 9.7
AMPSO	8.3 - 9.7
Ammonia	8.8 - 9.9
CHES	8.6 - 10.0
Borate	8.5 - 10.2			Forms covalent complexes with sugars, ribonucleotides, and glycerol
CAPSO	8.9 - 10.3
AMP	9.0 - 10.5
CAPS	9.7 - 11.1
CABS	10.0 - 11.4