Good's buffers

Good's buffers (also Good buffers) are twenty buffering agents for biochemical and biological research selected and described by Norman Good and colleagues during 1966-1980. Most of the buffers were new zwitterionic compounds prepared and tested by Good and coworkers for the first time, some (MES, ADA, BES, Bicine) were known compounds previously overlooked by biologists. Before Good's work, few hydrogen ion buffers between pH 6 and 8 had been accessible to biologists, and very inappropriate, toxic, reactive and inefficient buffers had often been used. Many Good's buffers became and remain crucial tools in modern biological laboratories.

Selection criteria

Good sought to identify buffering compounds which met several criteria likely to be of value in biological research.