Silica Suspension for plasmid recoveryΒΆ

Contributed by Ian Chin-Sang, Queens University, ON, Canada

Silica Suspension for plasmid recovery

  • Suspend 2-10 grams of Silica (Sigma S-5631) in 20 mls H2O
  • Allow to settle for 2 hours
  • Remove milky supernatant and suspend settled silica in 20 mls H2O
  • Allow to settle for 2 hours (repeat 3 times)
  • Estimate volume and resuspend silica in 2 vols 6M Guanidine Hydrochloride-1M KOAc buffer, pH 5.5.

This method is based, with permission, on an original protocol available here.