Cetrimonium bromide

• Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide ( HTAB )
• N, N, N- Trimethylhexadecyl bromide
• Cetrimonium
• Palmityltrimethylammoniumbromid

• D08AJ04
• D11AC01

White solid

Fixed

248-251 ° C

Sparingly soluble in water (3.1 g · l -1 at 19.35 ° C)

Risk

410 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

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Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB or CTABr ) is a quaternary ammonium compound having one long chain alkyl group having 16 carbon atoms.

Properties

CTAB is a cationic surfactant, which is used as a complexing agent and a detergent. It is, depending on the salt concentration in the solution, the complex compounds with nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, but which are soluble in water in the concentrated alcohol insoluble. At room temperature, CTAB solutions are stable for several years. It is in the form of a combustible, a white crystalline powder.

Use

CTAB is used

• As a phase transfer catalyst of polyamides, polycarbonates, and Polythiocarbonaten.
• In molecular biology. in DNA extraction ( plasmid isolation ). In this method, disturbing polysaccharides and proteins are separated by complex formation and precipitation of the DNA with CTAB ( CTAB ) method.
• As a cationic surfactant in the chromatography.
• In the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to determine the molecular weight of proteins that exhibit unusual migration behavior (eg, highly charged proteins or membrane protein subunits ).
• During the precipitation of high molecular weight DNA, especially from plant material (genomic DNA). The tissue or cells are homogenized in buffer containing CTAB.
• As an additive in the ion pair.

• As the active ingredient in medications (such as in the mouth and throat infections ).

Related compounds

• Cetyltriethylammonium ( CTEAB )
• Miltefosine