A pH indicator and triarylmethane dye
Technical Support & Resources

Information provided in the product description is from published literature. Due to the nature of scientific experimentation, your results (e.g., selectivity and effective concentrations) or specific application for this product may differ. If you have questions about how this product fits your application, please contact our technical support staff.

Visit our FAQ

Contact Us

Toll Free Phone (USA and Canada Only): (888) 526-5351
Direct Phone: (734) 975-3888

Request Technical Support

Technical Support Request

To streamline the process attach the appropriate questionnaire to your inquiry.

Download IHC QuestionnaireDownload WB Questionnaire

View Our Privacy Statement for details on how we use and protect your data. In addition, this site is protected by hCaptcha and its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Bromophenol Blue

Item No. 14331

Product Insert (PDF)Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (PDF)
Technical Information
Formal Name
4,4’-(1,1-dioxido-3H-2,1-benzoxathiol-3-ylidene)bis-2,6-dibromo-phenol
CAS Number
115-39-9
Synonyms
  • BPB
  • NSC 7818
Molecular Formula
C19H10Br4O5S
Formula Weight
670.0
Formulation (Request formulation change)
A crystalline solid
Solubility(Learn about Variance in Solubility)
DMF: 30 mg/mlDMSO: 30 mg/mlEthanol: 10 mg/mlPBS (pH 7.2): 1 mg/ml
λmax
206, 282, 424 nm
SMILES
O=S1(C2=CC=CC=C2C(C3=CC(Br)=C(O)C(Br)=C3)(C4=CC(Br)=C(O)C(Br)=C4)O1)=O
InChi Code
InChI=1S/C19H10Br4O5S/c20-12-5-9(6-13(21)17(12)24)19(10-7-14(22)18(25)15(23)8-10)11-3-1-2-4-16(11)29(26,27)28-19/h1-8,24-25H
InChi Key
UDSAIICHUKSCKT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Shipping & Storage Information
Storage
Room temperature
Shipping
Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere
Recommended Products

Certificates of Analysis & Batch Specific Data

Provide batch numbers separated by commas to download or request available product inserts, QC sheets, certificates of analysis, data packs, and GC-MS data.

Download most recent Certificate of Analysis for this product

    25 g

    $49

    Add

    50 g

    $86

    Add

    100 g

    $160

    Add
    Cayman Chemical
    Visit Our Environmental Toxicology Resource Center

    Explore additional resources to study natural toxins, pollutants including PFAS and 6-PPD-Q, and their biological effects.

    ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY TOOLS & SERVICES
    Product Description

    Bromophenol blue is a pH indicator, a color marker to monitor the progress of agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and a triarylmethane dye to detect proteins and nucleic acids.1,2,3,4 As an acid-base indicator, its pH range is 3-4.6, where the color changes from yellow at pH 3 (λmax = 440 nM) to blue at pH 4.6 (λmax = 590 nM).4 Upon binding to proteins, bromophenol blue displays a peak absorbance at 610 nm. It exhibits light-dependent toxicity in ARPE-19 retinal epithelial cells and is toxic to D. magna with an LC50 value of 129.308 mg/L at 72 hours.3,5 However, bromophenol blue is not mutagenic in vitro or in mice.6 It has been found in wastewater.7 Formulations containing bromophenol blue have been used as food, textile, ink, and cosmetic dyes and have previously been used in the diagnosis of proteinuria.

    WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

    References & Product Citations
    Product Description References

    1. Suzuki, Y. Protein error of pH indicators in the presence of detergents. Anal. Sci. 23(6), 733-738 (2007).

    2. Burford, G.D., and Pickering, B.T. The number of neurophysins in the rat. Influence of the concentration of Bromophenol Blue, used as a tracking dye, on the resolution of proteins by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Biochem. J. 128(4), 941-944 (1972).

    3. Morales, M.C., Freire, V., Asumendi, A., et al. Comparative effects of six intraocular vital dyes on retinal pigment epithelial cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 51(11), 6018-6029 (2010).

    4. Flores, R. A rapid and reproducible assay for quantitative estimation of proteins using bromophenol blue. Anal. Biochem. 88(2), 605-611 (1978).

    5. Kağizman, E.B., Ergen, Ş.F., and Taştan, B.E. Bromophenol blue removal by Pseudochloris wilhelmii and acute toxicity on Daphnia magna. Bilecik Şeyh Edebali univ. fen bilim. derg. (Online) 12(2), 456-465 (2025).

    6. Lin, G.H., and Brusick, D.J. Mutagenicity studies on two triphenylmethane dyes, bromophenol blue and tetrabromophenol blue. J. Appl. Toxicol. 12(4), 267-274 (1992).

    7. Akpomie, K.G., Adegoke, K.A., Oyedotun, K.O., et al. Removal of bromophenol blue dye from water onto biomass, activated carbon, biochar, polymer, nanoparticle, and composite adsorbents. Biomass Convers. Biorefin. 14, 13629-13657 (2024).