Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide

Description

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sometimes called cetrimonium bromide, is a quaternary ammonium salt with surface-active and antiseptic properties. Today, in addition to its use as a topical antiseptic, CTAB has applications in medicine as an apoptosis-promoting anticancer agent, and in protein electrophoresis, DNA extraction buffer systems, and nanoparticle synthesis.

Chemical properties

White powder. Soluble in water, alcohol, and chloroform.

What are the applications of Application

Cetrimonium bromide is a quaternary ammonium salt that can prevent the proliferation of bacteria, fungi, and yeast in cosmetic preparation, while also act as an emulsifying agent. It is a cationic surfactant used as a template in the synthesis of Mesoporous γ-Fe2O3.

Definition

ChEBI: The organic bromide salt that is the bromide salt of cetyltrimethylammonium; one of the components of the topical antiseptic cetrimide.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide also called cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), is a cationic surfactant. CTAB is employed for extraction of DNA. CTAB method is efficient, cost and time effective for DNA extraction. CTAB is used as a shaping material and reducing agent for nanoparticle generation.

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from EtOH, EtOH/*benzene or from wet acetone after extracting twice with pet ether. Shake it with anhydrous diethyl ether, filter and dissolve it in a little hot MeOH. After cooling in the refrigerator, the precipitate is filtered off at room temperature and re-dissolved in MeOH. Anhydrous ether is added and, after warming to obtain a clear solution, it is cooled and the crystalline material is collected. [Dearden & Wooley J Phys Chem 91 2404 1987, Hakemi et al. J Am Chem Soc 91 120 1987, Beilstein 4 IV 819.]

References

[1] Liu, Tingting et al. “Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide assisted growth of NiCo2O4@reduced graphene oxide/ nickel foam nanoneedle arrays with enhanced performance for supercapacitor electrodes?.” RSC Advances 7 (2022): 4029–4041.