What is "depuration"

Depuration \Dep`u*ra"tion\, n. [Cf. F. d['e]puration.] The act or process of depurating or freeing from foreign or impure matter, as a liquid or wound.

n. The removal of impurities, especially from bodily fluids; purification, cleansing.

Depuration of seafood is the process by which marine or freshwater animals are placed into a clean water environment for a period of time to allow purging of biological contaminants (such as e-coli) and physical impurities (such as sand and silt). The most common subjects of depuration are such bivalves as oysters, clams, and mussels.