High-precision THz dielectric spectroscopy of Tris-HCl buffer

Abstract

Tris-HCl buffer solution is extensively used in biochemistry and molecular biology to maintain a stable pH for biomolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins. Here we report on the high-precision THz dielectric spectroscopy of a 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer. Using a double Debye model, including conductivity of ionic species, we measured the complex dielectric functions of Tris-HCl buffer. The fast relaxation time of water molecules in Tris-HCl buffer is ~20% longer than that in pure water while the slow relaxation time changes little. This means that the reorientation dynamics of Tris-HCl buffer with such a low Tris concentration is quite different from that of pure water.