Diethanolamine (DEA) is a polyfunctional product that is a secondary amine and a diol and acts as a weak base. Diethanolamine buffer (10 mM diethanolamine, 0.5 mM MgCl2, pH 9.5) is frequently used in colorimetric assays (ELISA) using p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP, sc-3720) substrate and diethanolamine buffer. DEA (5% diethanolamine, pH 11.5) may also be useful for the dissociation of antigen-antibody complexes. For surface staining of monoclonal antibody-alkaline phosphatase conjugates by flow cytometric analysis, diethanolamine buffer (pH 9.6) has been used with BCIP/NBT (sc-24981) substrate. Also used as an absorbent for acid gases and as a chemical intermediate.
Also available: PNPP substrate buffer: sc-296099