Triton X-100

Triton X-100 (n) is a nonionic surfactant which has a hydrophilic polyethylene oxide group (on average it has 9.5 ethylene oxide units) and a hydrocarbon lipophilic or hydrophobic group. The hydrocarbon group is a 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl group. It is related to the Pluronic range of detergents marketed by BASF. The pluronics are triblock copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. The part formed from ethylene oxide is more hydrophilic than the part from propylene oxide. Triton X-100 is very viscous at room temperature and is thus easiest to use after being gently warmed.

Triton X-100 was originally a registered trademark of Rohm & Haas Co. It was subsequently purchased by Union Carbide. It was acquired by the Dow Chemical Company when Dow acquired Union Carbide. Soon afterward (in 2009), Dow acquired Rohm & Haas Co. itself.

Uses
Triton X-100 is a commonly used detergent in laboratories. For example:
 * it can be used to permeabilize unfixed (or lightly fixed) eukaryotic cell membranes
 * it is used in conjunction with zwitterionic detergents such as CHAPS to solubilize membrane proteins in their native state.
 * Can be used in DNA extraction as part of the lysis buffer (usually in a 5% solution in alkaline lysis buffer).
 * It can be used to reduce the surface tension of aqueous solutions during immunostaining (usually in concentration of 0.1-0.5% in TBS or PBS Buffer).
 * Emerging use in dispersion of carbon materials for soft composite materials
 * it is used in microbiology to restrict colony expansion in Aspergillus nidulans

Apart from laboratory use, Triton X-100 can be found in several types of cleaning compound, ranging from heavy-duty industrial products to gentle detergents. It is also a popular ingredient in homemade vinyl record cleaning fluids together with distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. Triton X-100 appears as a final ingredient in several yearly influenza vaccines worldwide.