Usual protocol for making DEPC water is to add DEPC to water (to 0.1%), shake it vigorously and leave it at 37degrees overnight, then autoclave it.

DEPC is a pretty unstable (and toxic) compound, and the overnight step at 37 should allow the DEPC to destroy RNAses, and also get rid of virtually all of the DEPC, but if not, the autoclaving certainly will (DEPC decomposes to ethanol and CO2).

And this is fine, and exactly what you want (as DEPC itself is capable of interfering with downstream reactions). You want the DEPC to destroy RNAses, then break down completely.

SO: yes, you can (and indeed should) autoclave DEPC water. However, if you're finding bits in your DEPC water, and you think they might be contaminants growing in there, I would just throw it all away and make some new DEPC water. It pays to be cautious.

thank you very much for your suggestion..... m really satisfied

But we purchase DEPC water directly.... and donot make it.

Hi  Banerjee,

I agree with Hildyard, throw contaminated DEPC all away and make some new DEPC water.  DEPC water can be autoclaved, when you make DEPC water using  pure DEPC. While if you autoclave the purchased DEPC water, it is useless and meaningless.

If you purchase DEPC water in a large package directly, you should better divide it into small container to avoid being  contaminated.

Good luck.