Sulphation

Sulphation is a chemical process involving the addition of a sulfate group (SO4^2-) or sulfuric acid to a molecule. This can occur in various contexts, both biological and industrial. In biological systems, sulphation is a crucial metabolic pathway. It plays a role in detoxification, where the body attaches sulfate groups to certain compounds, making them more water-soluble and easier to excrete. Sulphation also modifies the activity of proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters, influencing their function and signaling. For example, the sulphation of tyrosine residues in proteins is a common post-translational modification that can alter protein stability and interactions.

In industrial chemistry, sulphation is employed in the production of numerous compounds. For instance, it is a key step in the manufacture of detergents, where long-chain alcohols are sulphated to create surfactants. Sulphuric acid is often used as the sulphating agent in these reactions. The process can also be relevant in materials science, such as in the formation of sulfate minerals or in certain forms of corrosion where sulfate ions contribute to degradation. Understanding sulphation is important for fields ranging from biochemistry and pharmacology to chemical engineering and environmental science due to its widespread impact on chemical transformations and biological processes.