Patent Blue V — Acid Blue 3 Triphenylmethane dye · λmax ~640 nm · Intense blue-green colour
Patent Blue V (Acid Blue 3, C.I. 42051) is a synthetic triphenylmethane dye of high commercial and scientific significance. The calcium salt form (CAS 3536-49-0) is the predominant pharmaceutical and food-grade variant, characterised by its intense blue-green colour, high aqueous solubility (up to 20.98 g/L at 20 °C), and stability across a broad pH range (3–10).
The dye absorbs strongly at ~640 nm, producing vivid blue colouration readily visualisable in tissue sections, lymphatic vessels, and solution-based assays. In Europe it is authorised as food additive E131 (Food Blue 5) under Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008, and is approved for sentinel lymph node mapping in surgical oncology by TGA and EMA. AuSaMicS supplies a high-purity, batch-traceable grade suitable for regulated scientific and food applications.
Chemical Identity
Chemical Name
Patent Blue V calcium salt
IUPAC Name
Ethanaminium, N-[4-[4-(diethylamino)phenylmethylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]-N-ethyl-, inner salt, calcium salt (2:1)
Molecular Formula
C₂₇H₃₄CaN₂O₇S₂
Molecular Weight
602.77 g/mol
CAS No.
3536-49-0
C.I. No.
42051 (Acid Blue 3)
EC No.
222-573-8
Absorption Maximum
~640 nm (aqueous, neutral pH)
Solubility
Up to 20.98 g/L in water at 20 °C (highly soluble)
Storage
+20 °C, protected from light and moisture; hygroscopic — keep tightly closed
Applications
🥊
Biological Staining
Histology and cytology tissue visualisation; lymphatic vessel staining; chromogenic media component and bacterial identification assays.
🩹
Medical Diagnostics
Approved for sentinel lymph node mapping in breast cancer surgery (TGA · EMA). Intraoperative lymphatic visualisation.
🍕
Food Colouring (E131)
Authorised as E131 (Food Blue 5) in Europe for gelatin desserts, sweets, beverages, and confectionery. FSANZ permitted in Australia/NZ.
Regulatory Status
E131 — EU Food Law
Authorised under Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 for specified food categories
JECFA
Evaluated by FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee; ADI established
EFSA
Re-evaluated under EU programme; authorised at current approved uses
TGA (Australia)
Approved pharmaceutical colourant and diagnostic agent (sentinel lymph node)
FSANZ
Permitted food colour under Australian and New Zealand Food Standards
AICS
Listed on Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances
+20 °C (room temperature); protect from light and moisture
Container
Tightly closed, original container; amber glass or light-resistant vessel preferred
Hygroscopicity
Hygroscopic — store with desiccant; reseal immediately after use
Shelf Life
See retest date on label; typically 3 years from manufacture under correct conditions
AuSaMicS Pty Ltd (ABN 56 676 640 467) warrants this product meets stated specifications at time of manufacture. Supplied for laboratory, diagnostic, and permitted food/feed applications. Not for unauthorized pharmaceutical, therapeutic, or injectable use. · 31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia · support@ausamics.com · +61 412 520 598 · www.ausamics.com.au
Product Identification
Product Name
Patent Blue V calcium salt
Cat No.
ASD-628
CAS No.
3536-49-0
C.I. No.
42051
EC No.
222-573-8
Lot No.
PBV260301
Grade
High-Purity Biological Stain / Colorant
Physical Properties
Appearance
Dark blue to green crystalline powder; hygroscopic
Molecular Formula
C₂₇H₃₄CaN₂O₇S₂
Molecular Weight
602.77 g/mol
λmax (aq., pH 7)
~640 nm
Solubility (water)
Up to 20.98 g/L at 20 °C
pH (1% aq. soln.)
~4.0 – 6.0
Hygroscopic
Yes — use desiccant storage
Spectroscopic Data
Absorption Maximum (λmax)
~640 nm in aqueous solution (neutral pH)
Secondary Absorption
~420 nm (minor shoulder)
Molar Absorptivity (ε)
~35,000–40,000 L·mol⁻¹·cm⁻¹ at λmax
Beer-Lambert Range
Linear up to ~50 mg/L for standard colorimetric use
Fluorescence
Non-fluorescent under standard conditions
Recommended Solvent
Purified water or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)
Preparation & Use Guidelines
Stock Solution
Dissolve 10–50 mg in 1 mL purified water. Vortex gently until fully dissolved. Filter through 0.22 µm if required for injectable or cell culture applications.
Working Dilution
0.1–5 mg/mL for biological staining; consult specific protocol for application
pH Adjustment
Aqueous solution pH ~4–6; adjust with PBS for physiological applications
Solution Stability
Stable for several weeks at RT, protected from light; freeze at −20 °C for long-term storage
Incompatibilities
Strong oxidising agents (bleach, permanganate) decolourise the dye; strong acids/bases alter colour
Quality Control Specifications
Parameter
Specification
Method
Appearance
Dark blue to green crystalline powder; no visible impurities
Safety Data Sheet — GHS Format (Australian WHS Regulations 2017) Issue Date: March 2026 · Rev: 1.0 · Prepared in accordance with WHS Regulations and GHS 7th Revision.
Section 1 — Identification
Product Name
Patent Blue V (Acid Blue 3) — Calcium Salt (C.I. 42051)
Other Names
Acid Blue 3; E131; Food Blue 5; Sulphan Blue; C.I. 42051
AuSaMicS Pty Ltd, 31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia
Phone / Emergency
+61 412 520 598 · Poisons Centre: 13 11 26 (24h)
Email / Web
support@ausamics.com · www.ausamics.com.au
Section 2 — Hazard Identification
GHS Classification
Not classified as hazardous under GHS / WHS Regulations 2017 at supplied concentration. Precautionary irritant classification applies to dust/concentrated solution.
Signal Word
Warning (precautionary)
Hazard Statements
H315: Causes skin irritation · H319: Causes serious eye irritation · H335: May cause respiratory irritation (dust)
Precautionary
P260 · P264 · P280 · P305+P351+P338 · P312 · P501
Other Hazards
Intensely coloured dye — stains skin, clothing, and surfaces. Hygroscopic. Anaphylaxis associated with injectable form (clinical) — not applicable to this laboratory/food-grade supply.
Section 3 — Composition
Component
CAS No.
Proportion (w/w)
GHS Classification
Patent Blue V calcium salt
3536-49-0
≥ 85%
Not classified at supplied concentration
Water of crystallisation / moisture
7732-18-5
≤ 10%
Not classified
Minor manufacturing residues
—
< 5%
Not classified
Sections 4–8 — First Aid, Fire, Spill, Handling, PPE
Inhalation
Remove to fresh air. If respiratory irritation from dust persists, seek medical advice.
Skin Contact
Wash with soap and water. Dye stains skin blue/green transiently (fades within hours–days). Seek advice if irritation persists.
Eye Contact
Rinse immediately with copious water ≥ 15 min, holding eyelids open. Seek medical attention if irritation persists. Conjunctival staining is transient.
Ingestion
Rinse mouth. Seek medical advice. Low acute oral toxicity (EU food additive). May cause transient blue colouration of urine/faeces.
Flash Point
Not applicable (non-flammable crystalline solid)
Extinguishing Media
CO², dry chemical, or water spray
Spill (dry)
Sweep or vacuum carefully. Avoid airborne dust. Collect in sealed container. Dispose per Section 13.
Spill (solution)
Absorb with inert material (sand, vermiculite). Collect and seal. Rinse area — dye staining may persist on porous surfaces.
Engineering Controls
Local exhaust ventilation when weighing dry powder
Respiratory PPE
P2 dust mask when generating dust from powder
Hand Protection
Nitrile or latex gloves — dye stains skin intensely
Eye Protection
Safety glasses; goggles if splash risk from concentrated solutions
Body Protection
Lab coat, closed footwear; dye-resistant apron for large volumes
Anaphylaxis reported with clinical injectable form (Sulphan Blue) — not applicable to this supply grade
Mutagenicity
Not classified (AMES: no clear mutagenicity per JECFA monograph)
Carcinogenicity
Not classified; IARC not evaluated
Aquatic Toxicity
Visible blue colour at mg/L levels; prevent discharge to waterways
Biodegradability
Limited direct biodegradability of synthetic dye; decolourise with bleach before drain disposal
Waste Disposal
Dilute solutions: decolourise with NaOCl before drain disposal. Solid: chemical waste contractor. Decolourise: add dilute bleach to aqueous dye waste.
Transport
Not regulated as dangerous goods (ADG / IATA / IMDG)
AICS (Australia)
Listed on Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances
SUSMP Schedule
Not scheduled for laboratory/food use; injectable pharmaceutical form — consult TGA
EU Food Law (E131)
Authorised under Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008
SDS Prepared By
AuSaMicS Pty Ltd — Technical & Quality Department · March 2026 · Rev 1.0
AuSaMicS Pty Ltd (ABN 56 676 640 467) · 31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia · support@ausamics.com · +61 412 520 598 · www.ausamics.com.au This SDS is prepared in accordance with Australian WHS Regulations and GHS (7th Rev.). For laboratory and permitted food/feed use only.
Product Details
Product Name
Patent Blue V (Acid Blue 3)
Catalog No.
ASD-628
CAS No.
3536-49-0
C.I. No.
42051
Lot No.
PBV260301
Mfg. Date
March 2026
Retest Date
March 2028
Grade
High-Purity Biological Stain / Colorant
Document Information
COA No.
COA-ASD-628-L001
Issue Date
March 2026
Issued By
AuSaMicS Quality Control
Test Ref.
In-house / Ph. Eur. / JECFA
Test Results & Analytical Data
Test Parameter
Specification
Method
Result
Status
Appearance
Dark blue to green crystalline powder; no visible impurities or clumping
Visual inspection
Conforms
PASS
Identity — UV-Vis (λmax)
635–645 nm (aqueous, pH 7 ± 0.5)
UV-Vis spectrophotometry
641 nm
PASS
Dye Content (spectrophotometric)
High purity grade — see lot-specific value
Spectrophotometric assay
See lot value
PASS
Absorbance Ratio A640/A420
> 3.5 (low intermediate impurity)
UV-Vis dual wavelength
4.1
PASS
Solubility (20 mg/mL, water)
Complete dissolution within 5 min at 20 °C
Solubility test
Complete
PASS
Loss on Drying
≤ 10.0% w/w (hygroscopic material)
105 °C / 2 h (gravimetric)
6.2%
PASS
pH (1% aqueous solution)
4.0 – 6.5
Potentiometry (ISO 10523)
5.1
PASS
Heavy Metals (Pb equiv.)
≤ 20 ppm
ICP-MS
< 5 ppm
PASS
Arsenic
≤ 3 ppm
ICP-MS
< 1 ppm
PASS
Microbiological Quality
TVC ≤ 1000 CFU/g; pathogens absent
USP <61>/<62>
Conforms
PASS
CAS / C.I. Identity Verification
CAS 3536-49-0; C.I. 42051 confirmed
Spectral + literature comparison
Confirmed
CONFORM
Conclusion: Lot PBV260301 fully meets all release specifications for Patent Blue V calcium salt (CAS 3536-49-0, C.I. 42051). This lot is RELEASED for use in biological staining, food colouring (E131), and permitted diagnostic applications.
Quality Control Analyst
AuSaMicS Quality Control Department
Date: March 2026 | Signature: _______________
Quality Manager
AuSaMicS Pty Ltd
Date: March 2026 | Signature: _______________
AuSaMicS Pty Ltd (ABN 56 676 640 467) warrants this product meets specifications at time of manufacture and release. Supplied for laboratory, diagnostic, and permitted food/feed applications only. AuSaMicS Pty Ltd shall not be held liable for any damages resulting from use outside the intended application. · 31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia · support@ausamics.com · +61 412 520 598 · www.ausamics.com.au