Reuse TAE buffer and agarose gel? - yes or no... (Jan/27/2005 )

Hi all,

I've just started in a new lab, and here they re-use their 1X TAE for DNA gels up to 5 times. I was under the impression that it should only be used once, however TBE could be used around 3 times.

So, should you, or should you not re-use TAE?

Thanks alot....

Ros[B][COLOR=red]

I guess we use at least 10 times before someone changes the buffer. I think it is OK to continue use it if DNA can be well separated and bands are not distorted.

hmm...interesting. thanks. 10 times - wow!!

i just used google to do a search, and found the commercially available 50XTAE from eppendorf should only be used once. presumably its the same recipe as standard TAE...

Website:
www.eppendorf.com/script/cms-newspic. php?id=1771&inline=1&col=DOWNLOADFILE

quote:
"For agarose gel electrophoresis, 50x TAE should be diluted to a working concentration of 1x. The TAE buffer should be
replaced after each electrophoresis run due to the anode solution becoming alkaline and the cathode solution acidic, which
results in lowered DNA mobility."

but if it works, then may as well.

thanks again...

I use 0.5X TBE to run my gels and I only use it twice.

Aside from remixing them to stabilize pH, one has to take into account that the tank buffer gets more concentrated the more you use it.

The little bubbles that come up from electrolysis of water.

It is OK for us to re-use 0.5X TAE for more than 10 times in our lab. But we don't keep the gel in the gel box after running gel each time and take the gel out, cut the dye band out. The rest part you can reuse.

Hi all, in our lab we re-use our homemade buffer until it runs out of "kick" that is to say the current exceeds 200mA when set at 120V.

I have worked in a lab where the gel itself is remelted and reused!!

Nick

hi
in our lab we re-use the home made buffer and the gells as much as we can for routine work. in fact i pour my gells on glass plates to make them thin and re-use it unless it is not broken in handling.
chandima