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.

Definition

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

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.

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.