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On the dissociation constant of ammonium: effects of using an incorrect pK a in calculations of the ammonia concentration in animal cell cultures

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Biotechnology Techniques

Abstract

The dissociation constant of NH 4 + , pK a NH 4 + , was used to calculate the ammonia concentration in cell cultures. pK a NH 4 + is 8.95 at 35°C. As an incorrect pK a (e.g. 9.27-9.3 at 37°C) is often used, this results in errors. The probable origin for this appears to be a combination of pK w at 24°C and pK b at 35°C. At 35°C and any pH, the ammonia concen-tration calculated from pK a = 8.95 is twice the ammonia concentration calculated from pK a = 9.27, but the differences in ammonium concentration are negligible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    Kristina Martinelle & Lena Häggström

Authors
  1. Kristina Martinelle
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  2. Lena Häggström
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Martinelle, K., Häggström, L. On the dissociation constant of ammonium: effects of using an incorrect pK a in calculations of the ammonia concentration in animal cell cultures. Biotechnology Techniques 11, 549–551 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018482520832

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018482520832

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