Patent ID: 8101744

Claim:
A method for purifying a nucleic acid comprising the steps of: providing a solid phase capable of reversibly binding the nucleic acid; providing a sample containing the nucleic acid; providing a solution containing a water-soluble salt which is liquid at room temperature (ionic liquid) and which comprises an organic cation selected from either the group consisting of N-(1-butyl)-guanidinium, N-1-(2-methoxyethyl)-guanidinium, and n-butane-1,4-diguanidinium, or the group consisting of 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium, 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium, 3-methyl-1-[4-(3-methyl-3-H-benzimidazol-1-ium)-but-1-yl]-3H-benzimidazolium-di(toluylsulfat), and 1-butyl-pyridinium; providing an aqueous buffer; contacting the provided components under conditions whereby the nucleic acid is adsorbed to the solid phase; separating the solid phase with the adsorbed nucleic acid from the solution; eluting the nucleic acid from the solid phase, thereby purifying the nuclec acid.