Solvent Black 3 is an

azo dye Azo dyes are organic compounds bearing the functional group R−N=N−R′, in which R and R′ are usually aryl and substituted aryl groups. They are a commercially important family of azo compounds, i.e. compounds containing the C-N=N ...

. It is a non-fluorescent, relatively thermostable

lysochrome A lysochrome is a soluble dye used for histochemical staining of lipids, which include triglycerides, fatty acids, and lipoprotein A lipoprotein is a biochemical assembly whose primary function is to transport hydrophobic lipid (also known as ...

(fat-soluble dye)

diazo dye Azo dyes are organic compounds bearing the functional group R−N=N−R′, in which R and R′ are usually aryl and substituted aryl groups. They are a commercially important family of azo compounds, i.e. compounds containing the C-N=N ...

used for

staining Staining is a technique used to enhance contrast in samples, generally at the microscopic level. Stains and dyes are frequently used in histology (microscopic study of biological tissues), in cytology (microscopic study of cells), and in the ...

of neutral

triglycerides A triglyceride (TG, triacylglycerol, TAG, or triacylglyceride) is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids (from ''tri-'' and ''glyceride''). Triglycerides are the main constituents of body fat in humans and other vertebrates, as we ...

and

lipid Lipids are a broad group of naturally-occurring molecules which includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids include ...

s on frozen sections and some

lipoproteins A lipoprotein is a biochemical assembly whose primary function is to transport hydrophobic lipid (also known as fat) molecules in water, as in blood plasma or other extracellular fluids. They consist of a triglyceride and cholesterol center, sur ...

on paraffin sections. It has the appearance of a dark brown to black powder with maximum absorption at 596–605 nm and melting point 120–124 °C. It stains blue-black.

Applications

Solvent Black 3 is used for a wide variety of commercial applications. In the laboratory, Solvent Black 3 is used for

Sudan stain Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

ing. Similar dyes include

Oil Red O Oil Red O (Solvent Red 27, Sudan Red 5B, C.I. 26125, C26H24N4O) is a lysochrome (fat-soluble dye) diazo dye used for staining of neutral triglycerides and lipids on frozen sections and some lipoproteins on paraffin sections. It has the appearance o ...

Sudan III Sudan III is a lysochrome (fat-soluble dye) diazo dye. It is structurally related to azobenzene. Uses It is used to color nonpolar substances such as oils, fats, waxes, greases, various hydrocarbon products, and acrylic emulsions. Its main use ...

, and

Sudan IV Sudan IV (C24H20N4O) is a lysochrome (fat-soluble dye) diazo dye used for the staining of lipids, triglycerides and lipoproteins on frozen paraffin sections. It has the appearance of reddish brown crystals with melting point 199 °C and m ...

. It can be used to stain some other materials than the other Sudan dyes, as it is not so specific to lipids. It is used is in fingerprint enhancement. It is useful for detecting fats that are contaminated with oil and grease. In differentiating haematological disorders, it will stain

myeloblasts The myeloblast is a unipotent stem cell which differentiates into the effectors of the granulocyte series. It is found in the bone marrow. Stimulation of myeloblasts by G-CSF and other cytokines triggers maturation, differentiation, proliferation ...

but not

lymphoblasts __NOTOC__ A lymphoblast is a modified naive lymphocyte with altered cell morphology. It occurs when the lymphocyte is activated by an antigen (from antigen-presenting cells) and increased in volume by nucleus and cytoplasm growth as well as new mRN ...

. It was introduced by Lison and Dagnelie in 1935.

Production and composition

Sudan Black is formed by coupling of diazotized 4-phenylazo-1-naphthylamine with 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1''H''-perimidine. Therefore, the main product expected was 2,3-dihydro-2,2dimethyl-6- 4-phenylazo-1-naphthalenyl)-azo1''H''-perimidine. However the dye resulting from the above reaction product actually contains many, up to 42 colored and colorless by-products that can be fractionated. The two major products were blue in color confirmed by various chromatographic (TLC and column etc.) separation and spectroscopic (IR, NMR, Mass) identification were named SBB-I & SBB-II (Rf values of 0.49 and 0.19 (chloroform/benzene 1:1, SiO2) in thin Layer Chromatography).HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY Volume 16, Number 1 (1968), 68-84, DOI: 10.1007/BF00306212 Thin layer chrornatography and histochemistry of Sudan Black B A. G. W. Lansink
/ref> The above described product indeed turned out to be SSB-II which comprises up to 60% of the mixture, and the SBB-I was 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-4- 4-phenylazo-1-naphthalenyl)-azo1''H''-perimidine.

References

External links

Stains File
entry {{Stains Azo dyes Staining dyes Naphthalenes Nitrogen heterocycles Sudan dyes