Michael, Our CMCD is set up for on-line updating with info of the type you are referring to. Just a matter of getting the time and personnel to do it. We already have some of this info in the CMCD. Martin
-----Original Message----- From: R.M. Garavito [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:44 PM To: Martin.Caffrey Cc: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Primary source for detergent properties Martin, Yes, I forgot the "bible" of detergents: "Critical micelle concentrations of aqueous surfactant systems" by Mukerjee and Mysels. However, the problem with all of these surfactant sources, including the Surfactant science series mentioned by Sue Roberts, is that they are focused on the detergents and the properties which are most useful to applied surfactant research, i.e. making better, grease-cutting laundry detergents and the like. The detergents we mostly use in biochemistry are often the unwanted/undesirable detergents in applied surfactant research. Hence, sifting through a pile of gravel to find the few flakes of gold takes a lot of time and patience. Moreover, even if there are data on the detergents we are interested in, e.g., alkyl glycosides, they are under solvent/solute conditions that are not useful to biochemists. We do need a database for biochemistry, but as you say it takes time and money. A Wiki-style database where users could upload their data might be useful to the community. I know several Ph.D. theses that contain lots of information that has never seen the light of day. Cheers, Michael **************************************************************** R. Michael Garavito, Ph.D. Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 513 Biochemistry Bldg. Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1319 Office: (517) 355-9724 Lab: (517) 353-9125 FAX: (517) 353-9334 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] **************************************************************** On Oct 23, 2007, at 3:50 PM, Martin.Caffrey wrote: I have found Bob Laughlin's book 'The Aqueous Phase Behavior of Surfactants' to be a useful resource on detergents. It has several relevant phase diagrams. Heavy on the P. Chem. Then there is the mother of all info in the area "Critical micelle concentrations of aqueous surfactant systems" a handbook by Mukerjee and - you guessed it - Mysels, published in 1971 by the National Bureau of Standards. No longer in print, it covers the lit from 1926 to the mid-sixties. A lot of useful info in it (>5,000 records) including effect of salt, pH and other additives on CMC values. We have converted the contents of the M&M handbook into a searchable relational database called the Critical Micelle Concentration Database (CMCD). The intent was to update it with the latest info on the more commonly used detergents and to post it on the web. However, this is a lot of work and requires funding. Alas funding for databases is virtually impossible to get. We will labor away at it in our 'spare time' and make what we have available for general use as soon as it is 'presentable'. Don't hold breath. Martin Caffrey University of Limerick
