A buffer works best within one pH unit of its own pKa, and its capacity grows with its concentration. Phosphate, HEPES and Tris cover the near-neutral range; acetate the acidic; ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium acetate are volatile and suit mass spectrometry and freeze-drying.
For a peptide, the buffer's pH sets its charge, and a buffer at least two units from the isoelectric point keeps it dissolved. The buffer must also have the capacity to absorb any acid or base the peptide stock brings with it.
See also
Cite this page
Text
Cosmic Peptides. (2026, October 30). Buffer: glossary entry. Cosmic Peptides Research Library. Retrieved October 30, 2026, from https://cosmicpeptides.com/research/glossary/buffer
BibTeX
@misc{cosmicpeptides_research_glossary_buffer,
author = {{Cosmic Peptides}},
title = {Buffer: glossary entry},
howpublished = {Cosmic Peptides Research Library},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
url = {https://cosmicpeptides.com/research/glossary/buffer},
urldate = {2026-10-30},
note = {Last reviewed 2026-10-30}
} RIS
TY - ELEC AU - Cosmic Peptides TI - Buffer: glossary entry T2 - Cosmic Peptides Research Library PB - Cosmic Peptides PY - 2026 DA - 2026/10/30 UR - https://cosmicpeptides.com/research/glossary/buffer Y2 - 2026/10/30 LA - en ER -
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