Uses and Preparation of Trometamol

Trometamol, also known as Tromethamine; 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol, is a white Chemicalbook-colored crystal or powder. Soluble in ethanol and water, slightly soluble in ethyl acetate and benzene, insoluble in ether and carbon tetrachloride, corrosive to copper and aluminum, and irritating chemicals.

Uses

Trometamol is an organic amine proton acceptor. It is used in the synthesis of surface-active agents and pharmaceuticals; as an emulsifying agent for cosmetic creams and lotions, mineral oil and paraffin wax emulsions, as a biological buffer, and used as an alkalizer. 

In vitro

Trometamol is a proton acceptor that generates NH₃⁺/HCO₃^- without generating CO2, and the protonated R-NH₃⁺ is eliminated by the kidneys. Trometamol is the buffer of choice in the situation where CO2 elimination is impaired (in which case NaHCO3 cannot correct acidemia), and to avoid a Na+ load. 

Even during short intervals of apneic oxygenation when CO2 elimination is curtailed, trometamol, but not bicarbonate, will maintain a normal arterial pH. Trometamol also acts as an osmotic diuretic, increasing urine flow, urinary pH, and excretion of fixed acids, carbon dioxide and electrolytes. A significant fraction of trometamol is not ionized and therefore is capable of reaching equilibrium in total body water. This portion may penetrate cells and may neutralize acidic ions of the intracellular fluid. 

Preparation method 

A preparation method of trometamol, the specific preparation steps are as follows:

1.800g of trometamol was added to 500ml of methanol aqueous solution, heated to 60°C and stirred to dissolve, wherein, the methanol aqueous solution was prepared by mixing pure water and methanol in a volume ratio of 2:3;

2.Add 8g of charcoal activated carbon to the solution, keep at 50°C for 30 minutes, filter while hot, and collect the filtrate;

3. Concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure, at a concentration temperature of 80°C, until crystallization occurs, let it cool, and the recovered methanol can be recycled;

4.After the crystals were separated by suction filtration, rinsed twice with absolute ethanol, and dried at 50°C for 4 hours to obtain 680 g of trometamol with a product purity of 100.03%.