Diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) is commonly used to treat water and other solutions for destroying RNase contaminations. Note reagents containing amine groups (e.g., Tris and HEPES) may not be treated with DEPC, since amine groups tend to react with DEPC.

1. Add DEPC to water or solution to the final concentration of 0.1% DEPC.

2. Incubate at room temperature overnight.

3. Autoclave the solution to break down DEPC.