4-Morpholinopropanesulphonic Acid, often called MOPS, shows up in countless labs and factories across the globe. This organic compound carries the molecular formula C7H15NO4S, with a molar mass around 209.26 grams per mol. Looking at its chemical structure, you’ll notice a morpholine ring attached to a propanesulfonic acid backbone. The result is a zwitterionic molecule prized for its buffering properties, especially across pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.9. MOPS often lands in research and industrial catalogs with a physical appearance that ranges from white to off-white flakes, powder, or crystallized solids, depending on production and storage conditions. Its density hovers near 1.14 grams per cubic centimeter, making it easy to handle and measure out in both small lab spaces and larger plant environments.
From my experience, knowing a chemical’s physical properties matters just as much as understanding what you can do with it. MOPS has a melting point drifting near 273°C, putting it solidly in the category of heat-stable substances. It dissolves well in water, forming clear solutions at room temperature, which simplifies use in buffer preparation. You’ll find it either as crystalline flakes or a free-flowing powder. Some suppliers turn it into pearls, boosting ease of weighing and dispensing, but the underlying chemistry stays the same. Its solid state means it comes in sealed plastic drums or polyethylene bags, protected from moisture, sunlight, and humidity fluctuations because excess water can cake the material or shift its properties.
Industry-grade MOPS comes with specifications for purity typically measured by HPLC or NMR, aiming for at least 99.0% content of active material. You’ll find further details mapped out for heavy metal content, usually below 10 ppm, and properties like pH stability in prepared solutions. The HS Code for 4-Morpholinopropanesulphonic Acid sits at 2934999099, slotting it alongside various organic sulfonic acids not specified elsewhere. Laboratories and manufacturing facilities demand a reliable raw material that won’t throw off experimental controls or production yields. Some batches cater to pharmaceutical work, where purity has stricter limits, while technical grades can land in fermentation or biochemical engineering plants. Accurate chemical analysis reports and batch certificates build confidence, and compliance with ISO or GMP standards often strengthens the case for supplier credibility.
People choosing MOPS rarely do so without knowing why. The acid’s zwitterionic nature makes it an excellent buffering agent for biological and biochemical processes, especially when pH drifts risk damaging sensitive enzymes or cell cultures. Molecular biology labs rely on MOPS to stabilize RNA during electrophoresis, where even minor shifts in acidity can throw results out the window. MOPS also lends a hand in food and beverage testing, water analysis, and pharmaceuticals. Because it carries little ionic activity outside its buffering range, it does not disrupt ongoing reactions or interfere with sensitive chromatography work. It surfaces as a raw material in several formulations needing gentle pH control without harsh contaminants.
Anyone who’s lifted a drum of chemicals knows convenience matters as much as chemistry. MOPS comes in forms ranging from sheer crystalline flakes to granular pearls, powders, and sometimes hydrous crystals. Bulk amounts show up in 25-kilogram lined drums or sacks, sealed against air and sunlight, with smaller labs often buying by the kilogram in tamper-evident jars. High-volume users might see suppliers offer custom packaging or on-site dissolving solutions. The chemical sometimes appears in liquid or ready-made buffer form, where manufacturers have already dissolved and standardized the MOPS concentration for immediate use, saving hours for research teams under deadline pressure.
For people working with MOPS daily, safety information should sit front and center. The chemical scores low on acute toxicity, though it can still irritate eyes or skin, especially as a dry powder. Workers need gloves, goggles, and dust masks when handling bulk shipments or preparing stock solutions. Chemical spill kits and eyewash stations cut down on risks of accidental exposure. Fire risk remains low, but no one wants to test what happens to a sulfonic acid in a blaze, and proper labels reflect that potential hazard. Disposal routines follow local environmental safety regulations, because even relatively benign lab chemicals can add up in wastewater streams, with consequences for the local environment and public health. MOPS generally rates as a substance of low ecological hazard, yet responsible use demands people keep it out of waterways and sewage.
Life in modern labs or manufacturing chains depends on unwavering trust in raw materials. Substandard or mislabeled chemicals from questionable suppliers lead to unexpected results or wasted resources, and in worst-case scenarios, safety hazards for workers and communities. Tracking the supply chain, from raw ingredients to finished MOPS and the paperwork trailing each batch, strengthens safety and productivity. Companies investing in robust sourcing routines and frequent quality checks wind up better able to react if shipments change in property or purity. Certifications, traceability, and transparency, along with good training for handling and storage, turn what could be a hazardous unknown into a reliable building block for science and industry.
