Detergents - Anionic, Cationic, Zwitterionic, Anti-foaming
Detergents are surfactants or compounds that decrease the surface tension between two liquids or liquids and solids by solubilizing hydrophobic molecules. These water-soluble surface-active agents are comprised of a hydrophobic portion, usually a long alkyl chain, attached to hydrophilic or water solubility-enhancing functional groups. Detergents are commonly used in biochemistry, cell biology and molecular biology for cell lysis, membrane protein and lipid purification, protein crystallization, and reduction of background staining in blotting experiments.
We offer a broad range of biological detergents and surfactants to meet your research and manufacturing needs, including biodegradable alternatives per OECD 301F, such as TERGITOL™ 15-S and ECOSURF™ surfactants. Our detergent products include: anionic detergents, cationic detergents, zwitterionic detergents, non-ionic detergents, and anti-foaming agents. Our portfolio of chemically-stable products spans from reagent grade for general lab use to highly purified grades for the most demanding applications. Bulk and custom ordering options provide the same product from bench top to large scale manufacturing under ISO 90001:2008 certifications.
Find here our Deviron® C16 and Deviron® 13-S9 detergents specifically tailored for the needs of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Products
Terg-a-zyme enzyme detergent
box of 45 kg (100 lb)
Alcojet® detergent
box of 22.5 kg (50 LB)
Alcojet® detergent
box of 45 kg (100 LB)
Detojet® low foaming liquid detergent
bottle of 19 L (5 GAL Jerrycan)
Alnochromix™
case of 4 x 10 packs (40 x 3.1 oz packs)
Luminox Low foaming neutral cleaner
pack of 3.8 L (1 GAL)
Sodium dodecyl sulfate
BioReagent, Molecular Biology, ≥98.5% (GC)
Triton™ X-100
laboratory grade
TWEEN® 20
viscous liquid
Pluronic® F-127
powder, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture
TWEEN® 20
Molecular Biology, viscous liquid
Triton™ X-100
Molecular Biology
Sodium hypochlorite solution
reagent grade, available chlorine 10-15 %
Antifoam 204
mixture of organic polyether dispersions
Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide
≥98%
Sodium dodecyl sulfate
≥99.0% (GC), dust-free pellets
TWEEN® 80
viscous liquid
Triton™ X-100 solution
BioUltra, Molecular Biology, ~10% in H2O
IGEPAL® CA-630
Molecular Biology
Poloxamer 188
solid
Ionic Detergents
Ionic detergents contain anionic or cationic head groups and possess a net charge. Their hydrophobic tails are either straight hydrocarbon chains, as in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), or rigid steroidal groups, as in bile acid salts. Ionic detergents are extremely effective in membrane protein solubilization but are almost always denaturing to some extent. Bile acid salts are anionic detergents with backbones consisting of rigid steroidal groups, e.g., sodium salts of cholic acid and deoxycholic acid. Because of their planar structure, these molecules have a polar and a nonpolar face. As a result, their CMC’s are high and their micelles are small, which makes them easy to remove by dialysis.
Non-ionic Detergents
Non-ionic detergents contain uncharged, hydrophilic head groups that consist of either polyoxyethylene moieties, as in BRIJ® and Triton™ Detergents, or glycosidic groups, as in octyl glucoside and dodecyl maltoside. Since non-ionic detergents break lipid-lipid and lipid-protein, but not protein-protein interactions, they are considered non-denaturing. Thus, these gentle detergents are widely used in membrane protein isolation in their biologically active form. Unlike ionic detergents, salts have minimal effect on the micellar size of non-ionic detergents.
Zwitterionic Detergents
Zwitterionic detergents have characteristics of both ionic and non-ionic types. Like non-ionic detergents, the zwittergents do not possess a net charge, lack conductivity and electrophoretic mobility, and do not bind to ion-exchange resins. Therefore, they are often useful alternatives to non-ionic detergents in ion-exchange chromatography, electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing. However, like ionic detergents, they are efficient at breaking protein-protein interactions. Steroid-based zwittergents, such as CHAPS, are less denaturing than linear-chain zwitterionic detergents (e.g., dodecyldimethyldiamine oxide).
Take the next step and connect with our experts to find the right biochemicals for your lab.
Related Resources
- Article: ECO Detergents and Greener Surfactants
Learn about our selection of biodegradable detergents and greener surfactants for cell lysis, membrane protein solubilization, PCR, protein extraction, and cell culture workflows.
- Application Note: Comparison of Greener Detergents in Mammalian Cell Lysis & Downstream Applications
In this application note, the capabilities of alternative detergents for effective mammalian cell lysis and downstream applications were assessed and compared to detergents commonly used: IGEPAL® CA-630, Triton™ X-100 and Triton™ X-114.
- Poster: Biological Detergents
This poster is an introduction to different types of detergents, their properties, and their applications in scientific research areas.
- Article: Solubilization of Membrane Proteins
Detergents solubilize membrane proteins for investigation, with detergent removal necessary for further characterization.
- REACH Update: Using Surfactants like Triton™ X-100?
Explore our comprehensive portfolio of detergents and surfactants as possible Triton X-100 alternatives for your research applications before the REACH Annex 14 ban takes effect.
- Flyer: Biodegradable Greener Surfactants
To aid you in reducing the environmental footprint of your research, we offer greener surfactants aligned with the “Design for Degradation” principle of The 12 Principles of Greener Chemistry.
- Guide: Detergents
Discover more about the properties, classifications, and uses of detergents in biological systems as a guideline for choosing the right detergent for your application.
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