Phenol [equilibrated with 0.1M Citrate buffer pH 4.5 w/ stabilizer]

Phenol [equilibrated with 0.1M Citrate buffer pH 4.5 with stabilizer] is primarily used in molecular biology for RNA purification because it separates RNA from DNA and proteins by altering their solubility properties. The buffer at pH 4.5 helps the phenol remain effective by keeping it in a more aqueous state and preventing degradation of the nucleic acids, while the stabilizer prevents microbial growth.