Coomassie destaining solution recipe
Removes background blue after Coomassie staining: 40% methanol, 10% acetic acid.
🧮 Volume calculator
| Component | Amount | Final concentration (1X) |
|---|---|---|
| Methanol | 400 mL | 40% |
| Glacial acetic acid | 100 mL | 10% |
| Water (distilled) | to final volume |
Steps
- Mix methanol and acetic acid with water to the final volume.
- Soak the gel with shaking, changing the solution several times.
Good to know
- A knotted tissue in the tray soaks up released dye so fewer changes are needed.
- Reducing methanol to 20% destains more slowly but preserves faint bands.
⚠ Safety Methanol is toxic and flammable — work with ventilation.
FAQ
I over-destained.
Briefly re-stain and destain for a shorter time.
This is a widely used standard composition. Amounts depend on the hydrate form and purity of your reagents — check the formula weight (FW) on the bottle and follow your institution's safety rules and the manufacturers' instructions.