Search: methylene blue

Many basic dyes (e.g. methylene blue) behave in a similar way to cation-active substances. Methylene blue forms a complex with dodecyl sulfate (anion-active surfactant), for example, which is soluble in organic solvents such as dichloromethane with blue colour. By adding quaternary ammonium compounds (QAV), this complex is decomposed and the methylene blue migrates from the dichloromethane into the aqueous phase. When titrating quaternary ammonium compounds with dodecyl sulfate, this process takes place in the opposite direction, i.e. the methylene blue migrates from the aqueous to the dichloromethane phase. The end point of the titration is reached when the aqueous and dichloromethane phases have the same colour depth.

Or to put it in other words:

Methylene blue (water-soluble dye in cationic form) forms a complex with dodecyl sulfate (anionic surfactant), which is soluble in organic solvents, e.g. dichloromethane, with blue colour. On the other hand, QAV also forms a complex with dodecyl sulfate, so that the indicator migrates into the organic phase once the equivalence point has been exceeded.

Live, aerobic yeast cells possess dehydrogeneases which reduce the methylene blue absorbed into the cell to its colourless leuco form, giving the cells a pale blue colour. Dead or inactive cells lack dehydrogenase activity and turn an intense blue colour.