Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 4, 2026

HEPBS

HEPBS is a zwitterionic organic chemical buffering agent; one of Good's buffers. HEPBS and HEPES have very similar structures and properties, HEPBS also having an acidity (pKa) in the physiological range. This makes it possible to use it for cell culture work.

Last revised
Jul 4, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
188 w
Citations
Source
HEPBS
Chemical structure of HEPBS
Chemical structure of HEPBS source ↗
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
4-[4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl]butane-1-sulfonic acid
Other names
HEPBS
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.157.294
EC Number
  • 629-081-6
  • InChI=1S/C10H22N2O4S/c13-9-8-12-6-4-11(5-7-12)3-1-2-10-17(14,15)16/h13H,1-10H2,(H,14,15,16)
    Key: LOJNFONOHINEFI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • C1CN(CCN1CCCCS(=O)(=O)O)CCO
Properties
C10H22N2O4S
Molar mass 266.356 g/mol
Appearance White crystalline powder
Density 1.25 g/cm3 (predicted)
Melting point 211–216 °C (412–421 °F; 484–489 K)
Acidity (pKa) 8.3
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Irritant
GHS labelling:[1]
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H315, H319, H335
P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
Flash point Non-flammable
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

HEPBS (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-(4-butanesulfonic acid)) is a zwitterionic organic chemical buffering agent; one of Good's buffers. HEPBS and HEPES have very similar structures and properties, HEPBS also having an acidity (pKa) in the physiological range (7.6-9.0 useful range). This makes it possible to use it for cell culture work.

HEPBS 1H NMR spectrum. source ↗
References

References