Advantages and Disadvantages of Buffer Solution

Buffers are substances or mixes of substances that withstand changes in pH when modest amounts of acid or alkali are added to the solution.

A weak base and its conjugate acid, or a weak acid combination and its conjugate base, make up a buffer solution. 

It prevents pH shifts or minor alterations caused by little doses of strong acid or base. 

Buffer solutions are commonly employed in a variety of chemical applications to keep pH at a practically constant level. Buffering is used to regulate pH in a number of systems.

Definition of buffer : 

Buffers are substances or mixes of substances that withstand changes in pH when modest amounts of acid or alkali are added to the solution.

A weak base and its conjugate acid, or a weak acid combination and its conjugate base, make up a buffer solution.

 It prevents pH shifts or minor alterations caused by little doses of strong acid or base. 

Buffer solutions are commonly employed in a variety of chemical applications to keep pH at a practically constant level. Buffering is used to regulate pH in a number of systems.

Advantages of buffer solution:-

1. A buffer’s main benefit is that it keeps the pH steady while also increasing the solubility of the material or formulation.
2. Buffer solution is important in chromatography because ionizable molecule retention is extremely sensitive to the pH of the mobile phase. In such cases, the pH of the mobile phase can be controlled by adding a buffer solution.
3. If you keep the buffer solution in the fridge, it will stay stable for several weeks.
4. Buffers such as acetate, ammonium, sodium, and phosphate, among others, are very soluble in water.
5. The pKa of a buffer solution is the same as that of body fluids, thus it’s utilised in dissolution testing to figure out how much and how fast a dosage forms a solution.It maintains the medicinal agent’s solubility in the pharmaceutical product.
6. Buffer solution enhances the stability of products containing a pH-dependent active ingredient.
7. It inhibits enzymatic reactions and is non-toxic to cells.
8. The beginning of action of the dosage form is accelerated by employing the buffer solution.
9. It’s used to improve biological performance.
10. Standard buffers, such as pH 07.00, 04.00, and 09.20, are used to calibrate analytical instruments because the pH of the buffer solution is accurate (pH meter).

Disadvantage of buffer solution:–

1. It’s an aqueous solution that can be contaminated with germs and isn’t ideal for long-term storage, so you’ll have to make a new one every time.
2. The pKa value of the component must be known in order to alter the pH of the solution.
3. When the pH of the solution is not maintained adequately, the drug dissolution may precipitate.
4. Some buffers are precipitated and have a tendency to respond.
5. Because drug components and some vitamins can only dissolve at a specific pH, maintaining the precise pH of the solution is critical.

Conclusion

Buffers are substances or mixes of substances that withstand changes in pH when modest amounts of acid or alkali are added to the solution.

A weak base and its conjugate acid, or a weak acid combination and its conjugate base, make up a buffer solution. 

It prevents pH shifts or minor alterations caused by little doses of strong acid or base. 

Buffer solutions are commonly employed in a variety of chemical applications to keep pH at a practically constant level. Buffering is used to regulate pH in a number of systems.