Acetate Buffer (pH 3.6 to 5.6) Preparation and Recipe

Sodium acetate buffers are used for purification and precipitation of nucleic acids, as well as for protein crystallization and staining gels used in protein electrophoresis. It is very popular in hematology, since there is some evidence that acetate-buffered infusions show improved stability. Acetate buffers are inexpensive and simple to prepare, and can be stored at room temperature.

To prepare

L of Acetate Buffer (pH 3.6 to 5.6):

Change the value in the textbox above to scale the recipe volume

Current molarity: 0.1	Adjust the molarity of the solution by using the slider below
Current pH: 5.6	Adjust the pH of the solution by using the slider below

Table 1. Required components

Component	Amount	Concentration
Sodium Acetate (mw: 82.03 g / mol)	#	#
Acetic Acid (mw: 60.05 g / mol)	#	#

Prepare 800 mL of distilled water in a suitable container.
Add # of Sodium Acetate to the solution
Add # of Acetic Acid to the solution
Adjust solution to final desired pH using HCl or NaOH
Add distilled water until the volume is 1 L.

References

This online resource may be cited as follows

MLA	"Quest Calculate™ Acetate Buffer (pH 3.6 to 5.6) Preparation and Recipe." AAT Bioquest, Inc., 4 Nov. 2025, https://www.aatbio.com/resources/buffer-preparations-and-recipes/acetate-buffer-ph-3-6-to-5-6.
APA	AAT Bioquest, Inc. (2025, November 4). Quest Calculate™ Acetate Buffer (pH 3.6 to 5.6) Preparation and Recipe. AAT Bioquest. https://www.aatbio.com/resources/buffer-preparations-and-recipes/acetate-buffer-ph-3-6-to-5-6.
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This online resource has been cited in 2 publications, including

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