Buffer

Essentially there are 3 systems in the body that maintain pH; the buffer system primarily, the respiratory system and the renal system BUFFER A buffer is a mixture of a weak acid and its salt with strong base or mixture or weak base and its salt with strong acid which tends to maintain hydrogen ion concentration when limited amount of acid or alkali is added to it.

Example 1- the weak carbonic acid and its salt bicarbonate [bicarbonate salt eg- NaHCO3, KHCO3] Example 2:- the weak acid (H2PO4) and its salt- (HPO4)

BODY BUFFER SYSTEMS

1. BICARBONATE BUFFER SYSTEM - Consists of weak carbonic acid and its salt bicarbonate. -The ratio of acid: salt is 1:20 -pK value of bicarbonate buffer system is 6.1 -Approximately 60 % of the bodys buffering action is done by this system

2. PHOSPHATE BUFFER SYSTEM -Consists of acid H2PO4 and its salt HPO4 -pK value of the system is 6.8

3. PROTEIN BUFFER SYSTEM -Consists of hydrogen with protein that acts as weak acid and sodium salt with protein -Has a pK value of 6.4

4. HAMEOGLOBIN BUFFER SYSTEM HAEMOGLOBIN -Hydrogen with haemoglobin acid [H Hb] and its - Potassium with haemoglobin (K+Hb-]salt 1

-pK value= 7.8 OXYHAEMOGLOBIN -Hydrogen and haemoglobin with oxygen acid [H.HbO2]. - Potassium and Hydrogen with Haemoglobin with oxygen salt [K+HbO2] -pK value = 6.6

5. AMMONIA BUFFER SYSTEM -composed of Ammonium as weak acid and -Ammonia as salt -pK value= 9.0 this system along with the phosphate buffer system are important in renal functions

6. BONE BUFFER SYSTEM -Maintains alkaline calcium salt of bone -Ca10(PO4)6(OH)4 hydroxyl apatite crystal (formed basically by the reaction of calcium and phosphate in bone mixing with water)

Buffer Bicarbonate Buffer Phosphate Buffer Protein Buffer Hemoglobin Buffer Ammonia Buffer Bone Buffer system Buffer 6.1 6.8 6.4 7.8 9.0

pKa

BUFFERS ACCORDING TO COMPARTMENT 1. BLOOD BUFFERS- consist of 2 systems:

-Plasma buffer system:- the systems according to level of importance are: i. ii. iii. Bicarbonate buffer system Protein buffer system Phosphate buffer system

-RBC buffer system :- again according to level of importance consists of: i. ii. iii. haemoglobin buffer system phosphate buffer system bicarbonate buffer system

44 % of the buffering activity of the body is done by the Plasma buffer system, while the remaining 56 % by RBC buffer system

2. EXTRA CELLULAR FLUID BUFFERS (ECF BUFFERS)- the systems according to level of importance are: i. ii. iii. Bicarbonate buffer system Protein buffer system Phosphate buffer system

3. INTRA CELLULAR FLUID BUFFERS (ICF BUFFERS)- the systems according to level of importance are: i. ii. iii. Protein buffer system Phosphate buffer system Bi- carbonate buffer system

4. KIDNEY BUFFERS- the systems according to level of importance are: i. ii. iii. Phosphate buffer system Ammonia buffer system Bi- carbonate buffer system 3

5. RESPIRATORY BUFFERS- the systems according to level of importance are: i. ii. Haemoglobin buffer system Bicarbonate buffer system

6. BONE BUFFERS- consist of alkaline calcium salt of bone

ECF buffers- very rapid rate of action ICF buffers- intermediate rate of action Bone buffers- delayed rate of action

Advantage of bone buffers 1. Serve as enormous reserves of bone buffers and can buffer tremendous amounts of proteins 2. They have a tremendous effect in chronic acidosis or alkalosis Advantage of Bicarbonate buffers 1. Involved in 60 % of total buffering activity hence has a very high buffering capacity 2. Field of activity is wide because of diffusibility of carbon dioxide in extracellular fluid and intracellular fluid or in biological membrane 3. Work in close collaboration with Haemoglobin buffers in respiratory system 4. It is the only buffer system which is an open-ended system. 5. It has much more adaptability because the components of this system( H2CO3 and HCO3) are under light control of Renal and Respiratory systems.

MECHANISM OF ACTION OF BUFFER SYSTEMS 1. If a strong acid is added then the salt portion will come forward to buffer. Eg- in the bicarbonate buffer system: H2CO3/NaHCO3 + HCl NaCl + 2H2CO3

The sodium bicarbonate salt reacts with the strong acid(HCl) converting it to salt and a weak acid(H2CO3) 4

2. If a strong base is added then acid portion will come forward to buffer E.g- again in the bicarbonate buffering system NaHCO3/H2CO3 + NaOH 2NaHCO3 + H20

So here the strong base (NaOH) is converted to salt and water.

Buffering capacity It is the capacity/capability of the body to tolerate acid or alkali load without significant change of body pH. Buffering capacity is maximum when pK=pH Total body buffering capacity Measurements are assumed to be for a typical adult male weighing 70 kgs 12-15 mmol/kg or 1000 mmol/day Total body buffering capacity of any weight can be calculated like so:

[HCO3-] x 0.6 x body weight( in kilograms)

Buffer Base - it is the total amount of bases in the body -HCO3 28 milli-mol/L -Haemoglobin- 15 mmol/L -Others- 5 mmol/L

Total 48 mmol/L of whole blood at haemoglobin of 15 gram %

Base excess Calculated by: Observed buffer base Normal buffer base

-Positive base excess signifies metabolic alkalosis -Negative base excess signifies metabolic acidosis Hence by analysing buffer base component one can confirm whether there is acidosis or alkalosis in a person.