High-resolution electrophoresis
TBE Buffer Recipe
Prepare 10x TBE buffer from Tris base, boric acid, and EDTA. Includes 1x dilution guidance, pH notes, and common mistakes.
1 L 10x TBE stock recipe
- Tris base
- 108 g/L
- Boric acid
- 55 g/L
- 0.5 M EDTA pH 8.0
- 40 mL/L
Preparation steps
- 1Dissolve Tris base and boric acid in about 800 mL deionized water.
- 2Add 0.5 M EDTA pH 8.0 and mix completely.
- 3Bring to 1 L final volume.
- 4For 1x TBE, dilute 100 mL 10x stock into 900 mL water.
Worked example
- To make 2 L of 1x TBE, use 200 mL 10x stock and bring to 2 L final volume with water.
Safety and verification
- Label concentrated stocks clearly to prevent accidental direct use.
- Dispose of electrophoresis buffers according to local rules, especially if contaminated by stains.
Common mistakes
- Running gels in 10x stock instead of 1x working buffer.
- Letting boric acid remain undissolved before final volume adjustment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I dilute 10x TBE to 1x?
Use a 1:10 dilution. For 1 L final volume, combine 100 mL 10x TBE with water to 1 L.
Why use TBE instead of TAE?
TBE has stronger buffering capacity and often gives sharper bands for small fragments or longer runs.
What pH is TBE?
Common 1x TBE is around pH 8.3. Verify if your assay is sensitive to pH.
Scale this recipe without spreadsheet drift
Open LabTools for unit-aware solution prep, buffer presets, and protocol-style output.