Sodium Carbonate Treatment Research Articles

A pilot study of dimeticone oils versus sodium carbonate treatment for tungiasis: A randomized cohort trial in Homa Bay County, Kenya.

Tungiasis is a cutaneous parasitosis caused by the female flea Tunga penetrans. Two-component dimeticone (NYDA) is the only treatment for tungiasis recommended by the World Health Organization; however, this topical drug is not available in Kenya. In Western Kenya, sodium carbonate is commonly used in the treatment of tungiasis. This study evaluated the 7-day cure rates for tungiasis by comparing sodium carbonate and NYDA treatments in Homa Bay County, Kenya. This was a randomized, observer-blinded, parallel-treatment cohort trial. Twenty-three eligible children with 126 flea infections were matched and randomized. All participants received both treatments, with one treatment on each foot. We recorded all health conditions/information, including inflammation scores and adverse events. Observations were performed on days 3, 5, and 7 using a digital microscope to confirm dead or live fleas based on the viability signs. Twenty-three children aged 3-13 years were analyzed. The proportion of dead fleas on day 7 was higher after NYDA treatment than after 5% sodium carbonate treatment (87% versus 64%, respectively, P = 0.01) NYDA. Median survival was 5 days for both treatments; NYDA had significantly higher trend of flea non-viability rate than 5% sodium carbonate (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the inflammation score or pain/itchiness between the two treatments. On the last day, 14 children indicated their preference for NYDA in future treatment of tungiasis, whereas nine children preferred the 5% sodium carbonate solution. NYDA was significantly more effective than 5% sodium carbonate for tungiasis treatment. Both treatments were safe but the children preferred NYDA more. Future studies with more participants and an extended observation period are warranted to confirm our findings. The findings suggest that NYDA should be made more available in tungiasis endemic area. UMIN-CTR; UMIN 000044320.

Optimizing the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Porphyra linearis (Rhodophyta): Evaluating Alkaline and Enzymatic Hydrolysis for Nutraceutical Applications.

Porphyra sensu lato is one of the most economically significant and widely cultured and consumed algae in the world. Porphyra species present excellent nutraceutic properties due to their bioactive compounds (BACs). This research aimed to find the most efficient aqueous extraction method for BACs by examining alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis. Alkaline hydrolysis with 2.5% sodium carbonate (SC) and at 80 °C proved optimal for extracting all BACs (phycobiliproteins, soluble proteins, polyphenols, and carbohydrates) except mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), which were best extracted with water only, and at 80 °C. Enzymatic hydrolysis, particularly with the 'Miura' enzymatic cocktail (cellulase, xylanase, glycoside hydrolase, and β-glucanase), showed superior results in extracting phycoerythrin (PE), phycocyanin (PC), soluble proteins, and carbohydrates, with increases of approximately 195%, 510%, 890%, and 65%, respectively, compared to the best alkaline hydrolysis extraction (2.5% SC and 80 °C). Phenolic content analysis showed no significant difference between the 'Miura' cocktail and 2.5% SC treatments. Antioxidant activity was higher in samples from alkaline hydrolysis, while extraction of MAAs showed no significant difference between water-only and 'Miura' treatments. The study concludes that enzymatic hydrolysis improves the efficiency of BACs extraction in P. linearis, highlighting its potential for the nutraceutical industry, and especially with respect to MAAs for topical and oral UV-photoprotectors.

Porous Nano-Fiber Structure of Modified Electrospun Chitosan GBR Membranes Improve Osteoblast Calcium Phosphate Deposition in Osteoblast-Fibroblast Co-Cultures.

Desirable characteristics of electrospun chitosan membranes (ESCM) for guided bone regeneration are their nanofiber structure that mimics the extracellular fiber matrix and porosity for the exchange of signals between bone and soft tissue compartments. However, ESCM are susceptible to swelling and loss of nanofiber and porous structure in physiological environments. A novel post-electrospinning method using di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (tBOC) prevents swelling and loss of nanofibrous structure better than sodium carbonate treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that retention of nanofiber morphology and high porosity of tBOC-modified ESCM (tBOC-ESCM) would support more bone mineralization in osteoblast-fibroblast co-cultures compared to Na2CO3 treated membranes (Na2CO3-ESCM) and solution-cast chitosan solid films (CM-film). The results showed that only the tBOC-ESCM retained the nanofibrous structure and had approximately 14 times more pore volume than Na2CO3-ESCM and thousands of times more pore volume than CM-films, respectively. In co-cultures, the tBOC-ESCM resulted in a significantly greater calcium-phosphate deposition by osteoblasts than either the Na2CO3-ESCM or CM-film (p < 0.05). This work supports the study hypothesis that tBOC-ESCM with nanofiber structure and high porosity promotes the exchange of signals between osteoblasts and fibroblasts, leading to improved mineralization in vitro and thus potentially improved bone healing and regeneration in guided bone regeneration applications.

Hydrothermal Treatment of Wheat Bran under Mild Acidic or Alkaline Conditions for Enhanced Polyphenol Recovery and Antioxidant Activity.

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of hydrothermal treatments under mild acid and alkaline conditions on polyphenol release and recovery from wheat bran (WB). After an initial screening of various food-grade substances, strong evidence was raised regarding the potency of citric acid and sodium carbonate to provide WB extracts exceptionally enriched in polyphenols. Thus, these two catalysts were tested under various time and temperature combinations, and the processes were described by linear models based on severity factor. The most effective treatments were those performed with 10% of either citric acid or sodium carbonate, at a constant temperature of 90 °C for 24 h, providing yields in total polyphenols of 23.76 and 23.60 mg g-1 dry mass of ferulic acid equivalents, respectively. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses revealed that, while the sodium carbonate treatment afforded extracts enriched in ferulic acid, treatments with citric acid gave extracts enriched in a ferulate pentose ester. The extracts produced from those treatments also exhibited diversified antioxidant characteristics, a fact ascribed to the different polyphenolic composition. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the effective release of ferulic acid and a ferulate pentose ester from WB, using benign acid and alkali catalysts, such as citric acid and sodium carbonate.

Aplicación de quitosano y sustancias GRAS en el control de Geotrichum candidum aislado de frutos de jitomate (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) en el estado de Nayarit, México: Pruebas in vitro

Geotrichum candidum causal agent of tomato sour rot, has the potential to infect a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. In this work, the in vitro antifungal activity of Chitosan (Chi), Potassium Sorbate (PS), Sodium Bicarbonate (SB), and Sodium Carbonate (SC) and their mixtures were evaluated. The PS and SC treatments showed a 100% inhibition of mycelial growth (MG), germination, and sporulation. Regarding SB, 1.5 and 2.0% concentrations inhibited 87.5 and 88.5% of MG and affected germination and sporulation. Chi at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% inhibited MG by 63.1, 62.4, and 42.1%, respectively, affecting germination and sporulation. The combination of chitosan at 0.5% + PS 0.5% and Chi 0.5% + SC 0.5% demonstrated 99.3 and 71.4%, inhibition of MG, and affected germination and sporulation. Chi 0.5% + SB 1.5% showed no effect on MG, and at 0.5 and 1.0%, the growth rate of the mycelium increased, as well as sporulation and germination. In conclusion, chitosan and salts are an option for the use of synthetic fungicides in the control of pathogenic fungi in postharvest, with low toxicity, and are friendly to the environment.

The Effects of Sodium Carbonate and Bicarbonate Treatments on Sisal Fibre Composites

This work investigates the effect of eco-friendly chemical treatments on the mechanical and physical properties of composite laminates based on sisal fibres. A 2231 full-factorial design is conducted to test the influence of chemical solution types, fibre treatment time, and polymer matrix type on the mechanical and morphological characterisation of the composites. Chemical treatments remove impurities from fibre surfaces, and enhance fibre-matrix adhesion. The treatments, especially with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), also progressively reduce the hemicellulose fibre content. Polyester composites made with sisal fibres treated with Na2CO3 for 96h achieve enhanced strength and stiffness under tensile, compressive and impact loads. The results evidence the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed eco-friendly treatments for natural fibres and the application of renewable fibre laminates in secondary structural applications.

Hemp fiber surface modification: Its effect on mechanical and tribological properties of hemp fiber reinforced epoxy composites

AbstractIn this research work, the effects of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide treatment of hemp fiber on the water absorption, mechanical, and tribological properties of hemp fiber reinforced epoxy composites (HFREC) were investigated. The change in surface roughness and fiber size after chemical treatment was confirmed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed the removal of hemicellulose and lignin content of the fiber after both the chemical treatment. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed an increase in the crystallinity index of the chemically treated fiber. The experimental results also revealed that both sodium carbonate and peroxide modification have resulted in enhancement of water resistance and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and tensile modulus and reduction in impact properties of treated HFREC. Tribological test results revealed that the treated HFREC have improved wear and frictional properties in comparison with untreated HFREC. The best tribological and mechanical properties were exhibited by peroxide treated HFREC, which was also confirmed through the SEM images of worn and fractured surfaces of the composites.

Fast water-response double-inverse opal films with brilliant structural color

The construction of novel photonic structures renders the possibility for creating stimuli-responsive functional materials. Herein, innovative water-response double-inverse opal (WRDIO) films with fast response time and brilliant structural color are first fabricated by introducing polystyrene microspheres into the inverse-opal backbone. The deprotonation of carboxyl groups generated by sodium carbonate treatment in the inverse-opal backbone inhibits the formation of hydrogen bonds among the polymer chains and the exposed carboxyl anions lead to hydrophilicity, which is conducive to the penetration of water into the internal pores. The response is achieved by inducing the polystyrene spheres within the pores from random distribution to the ordered assembly in the water environment, thus eliminating the scattering disturbance and developing bright structural color. Meanwhile, WRDIO film with a highly invisible pattern revealed by water stimuli is prepared. Furthermore, the content of carboxylic anions in the polymer affects the optical behavior and the increased osmotic pressure caused by high-proportioned carboxylic anions makes the WRDIO film swelled rapidly by water, whereas ethanol cannot. The broad-spectrum shifting (≈92 nm) depends on the composition of the ethanol-water mixture. Thus, the rapidly water-response and easy-to-use film materials with brilliant structural color exhibit potential applications in user-interactive anti-counterfeiting and sensors.

The effect of treatment with sodium carbonate and hydrogen on the activity and selectivity of polymeric Pd-containing catalysts for hydrogenation of acetylene compounds

Catalytic hydrogenation of the triple carbon-carbon bond of acetylene compounds is an important industrial process. High selectivity to the olefin compound should be provided in the process. This study considers the effect exerted by sodium carbonate treatment of the palladium catalysts containing super-cross-linked polystyrene (SPS) on their activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation of 2-methyl- 3-butin-2-ol and phenylacetylene. The effect of such treatment was shown to depend on the chosen palladium precursor and the type of polymeric support (non-functionalized SPS or that containing ternary amino groups). At atmospheric pressure of hydrogen and a temperature of 90 °C in a toluene medium, the 1%-Pd/SPS catalysts treated with Na2CO3 provided a 98 % selectivity in the hydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butin-2-ol (at a 95 % conversion of the substrate), while selectivity in the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene reached 99.5 %.

Fabrication and Experimental Analysis of Treated Snake Grass Fiber Reinforced with Polyester Composite

The selection of fiber is predominant for natural fiber‐reinforced polymer composite materials, which should have easy extraction and good bonding with considerable strength. In this paper, some chemical treatments were done on the fiber material to increase interfacial bonding between the snake grass fiber (Sansevieria ehrenbergii) and polyester matrix, such as alkali treatment (NaOH), potassium permanganate treatment, sodium carbonate treatment, hydrogen peroxide treatment, and calcium carbonate treatment. The chopped snake grass fiber‐reinforced polymer composite material was prepared by keeping 25 wt.% of fiber and 30 mm fiber length reinforced with an unsaturated polyester resin that was cured with the help of the catalyst methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEPK). Cobalt naphthenate was used as an accelerator. Tribological properties were discussed for the highly potential sample with the help of a pin‐on‐disc wear tester, and the results were analysed by the Taguchi L9 orthogonal array. This paper exhibited the best mechanical and tribological properties among those chemical‐treated fibers used in fiber‐reinforced composite materials and untreated fibers used in fiber‐reinforced composite materials. CaCO3 treatment provided higher tensile strength (45 MPa), impact strength (3.35 J), and hardness (27 BHN). Finally, the mechanical and tribological characterization of the samples was done with the aid of SEM (scanning electron microscope).

Mechanical Properties of Chemically Treated Banana and Ramie Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Present research focuses on finding better fibre reinforcement cheap and eco-friendly polypropylene composite Mechanical Properties increased with increase in fibre loading and sodium carbonate Treatment. Banana and Ramie Fibres were chosen as reinforcement. The compression moulding technique was used to prepare the composite material. Fibre loading was varied at 0, 5 and 10% volume. Both raw Banana and Ramie Fibre was chemically treated with 5 wt% sodium carbonate and composites were also prepared with 0, 5 and 10% volume treated ramie and banana fibre. Analysis of prepared composites was subsequently conducted using Mechanical Tensile, flexural, hardness tests and. 10% fibre reinforced composite provided the best set of mechanical properties. It can be concluded after chemical treatment the mechanical treatment got enhanced.

Quantitatively Investigating the Effects of Fiber Parameters on Tensile and Flexural Response of Flax/Epoxy Biocomposites

ABSTRACT In this study, biocomposites fibers (flax/epoxy) with different fiber ratios were manufactured and their tensile, 3-point bending and morphological properties were characterized. The interfacial binding of fractured composite samples after tensile and 3-point bending tests were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical results revealed an increase in the composite sample manufactured by second formulation CT090 (biocomposites UD [0/90°]s treated by NaHCO3) compared to the different formulations studied. For example, the stress and Young’s modulus values of qua-static traction of the biocomposite CT090 treated with sodium bicarbonate are obtained to be 70.13 MPa and 1420.47 MPa, respectively. The overall test results stated that bio sodium carbonate treatment enhanced the mechanical and morphological properties of the biocomposites in this study. Finally, the experimental results were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using MINITAB software.

Sodium carbonate treatment of fibres to improve mechanical and water absorption characteristics of short bamboo natural fibres reinforced polyester composite

ABSTRACT The effect of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) treatment of short bamboo fibres on mechanical properties and water absorption character of polyester composite is investigated. Treatment time and Na2CO3 concentration were optimised to 6 h and 5 wt-% respectively. Microscopy of the treated fibres showed a significant change in surface texture whereas; FTIR suggested the removal of amorphous compounds from the fibres that resulted in enhanced interfacial bonding between fibres and the polyester matrix. Removal of amorphous compounds was also confirmed by TGA where material loss for untreated fibres was 15% higher than the treated fibres. Composites were prepared using 10, 20 and 30 wt-% of treated and untreated fibres. Good interfacial bonding, achieved by the fibre treatment, enhanced the strength (∼24 MPa),( decreased the impact energy (from ∼36×10−3 KJ/m2 to ∼33×10−3 KJ/m2) and improved the water absorption resistance (∼2%) in case of 20 wt-% fibres composite.

Chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) from waste batteries and morphological assessment of CRGO/methyl cellulose transdermal film

Disposed battery is a huge source of graphite in our environment. This graphite can be recycled by carrying out electrolysis at fixed voltage and the obtained product can be easily converted into graphene by the generation of graphene oxide (GO) as an intermediate using Hummer’s method. GO is converted into chemically reduced graphite oxide (CRGO) by sodium carbonate treatment and the material obtained is used as a filler in a drug (Ketorolac Tromethamine) loaded Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (MC) matrix. The KT loaded CRGO\\MC nanocomposite films is used to develop transdermal film for drug delivery where CRGO acts as a carrier. The recycled graphite (RGF), GO and CRGO materials has been characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Ultra-violet (UV) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). KT loaded CRGO\\MC nanocomposite films are characterized by TGA, XRD and moisture absorption properties analysis. The experimental result reveals the formation of successful exfoliated and stable KT loaded CRGO\\MC transdermal film. XRD study reveals the crystalline nature of nanocomposite films. In vitro drug release studies showed that CRGO\\MC based films can be used for controlled transdermal drug delivery applications.

Postharvest Practices for Organically Grown Products

Summary Quality of produce cannot be improved after harvest, only maintained. Postharvest handling depends on the specific conditions of production, season, method of handling, and distance to market. Under organic production, growers harvest and market their produce at or near the peak ripeness more commonly than in many conventional systems. Organic production often includes more specialty varieties whose shelf life and shipping traits are reduced or even inherently poor. Harvesting and handling techniques that minimize injury to the commodity, as well as increased care with field and packinghouse sanitation, (chlorine, ozone, calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide, acetic acid, peroxyacetic acid, vinegar, ethyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) during postharvest processes are vital components of a postharvest management plan for organic products. Sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and physical treatments such as heat treatments (as hot water treatment or dips, short hot water rinsing and brushing or hot air) can significantly lower the disease pressure on the harvested commodities. These sanitation practices are very easy to implement in the organic food production chain. They start in the field and continue during harvesting, sorting, packing, and transportation and continue even in the consumer’s home. All those treatments reduce rot development, provide quarantine security, and preserve fruit quality during cold storage and shelf life. In addition, the use chitosan, propolis, methyl jasmonate, essential oils, carnuba wax, biocontrol agents and modified atmosphere packaging can also reduce decay development during prolonged storage. All these treatments can be applied alone or in combination with each other in order to improve decay control after harvest and provide a healthy and safe product to the consumer. The aim of this chapter is to shed more light on the latest information on permitted treatments for organic products and on the possible mode-of-action of these treatments. This chapter summarizes technologies developed over the past five years that explore special physical treatments applied either directly, or in combination with other means to control rot development and insect infestation on fresh produce.

Enhancing energy production from waste textile by hydrolysis of synthetic parts

Waste jeans, containing cotton and polyester, are among the widely available sources for bioenergy production. In this study, the cotton part of waste jean was used for biogas and ethanol production. The hydrolysis of non-cellulosic part, i.e., polyester, and the pretreatment of cellulosic part was performed by sodium carbonate treatment. The effects of Na2CO3 concentration (0, 0.5, and 1 M) and temperature (50, 100, and 150 °C) on the cotton, polyester, and textile structure were investigated. The pretreated textile, with over 90% cellulose, was subjected to anaerobic digestion, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation to produce biogas, sugars, and ethanol, respectively. The maximum methane yields of 328.9 and 361.1 mL/g VS were achieved from pure cotton and jeans after pretreatment with 0.5 M Na2CO3 at 150 °C for 120 min, respectively. Using the pretreatment, the highest glucose yields of enzymatic hydrolysis were 88.0% and 81.71% for cotton and textile, respectively, while the corresponding values for untreated samples were 36.9 and 28.0%. The maximum ethanol yields of 69.4% and 59.5% were obtained from cotton and textile, respectively. It was concluded that the pretreatment is promising for the hydrolysis of the synthetic polymer of textile and the improvement of the biodegradability of the cellulosic part with negligible cellulose destruction.

Effort to explore the potential use of palmyrah fruit for functional food

PurposeThe purposes of this paper are to determine the nutritional composition of the pulp and its antioxidant activity; study the effect of drying and storage on the nutritional composition and antioxidant of the pulp; investigate the effect of de-bittering using fermentative microbes, sodium carbonate and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on antioxidant of the pulp, and to study the shelf-life and sensory evaluation of de-bittered pulp products.Design/methodology/approachThe ripe fruits of palmyra (Borassus flabellifer L) were collected around Kupang city, Indonesia. The pulp was extracted with different techniques. The fresh pulp was directly analyzed for its nutritional and antioxidant properties. The rest of the pulp was de-bittered, dried and used for further treatments and products development. The de-bittered pulp was used to make chips, stick cracker, and jelly sweet. Fresh products were sensory evaluated by 30 semi-trained panelists. For shelf-life analysis, products were wrapped and/or packed with different thickness of food grade plastic, plastic-alumina foil, or mica stopples and kept at different temperatures (30, 40 and 50oC) for one month.FindingsThe fresh pulp contains carotenoids (609.10 mg per kg of pulp), vitamin C (461.40 mg per kg of pulp), polyphenols (270 mg per kg of pulp) and anthocyanin (53.90 mg per kg of pulp). Free radical scavenging activity of the dried pulp (water content of 11.60 percent) was 93.4 percent. Several techniques including fermentation, sodium carbonate, and PEG treatment have been successfully developed to reduce the bitterness of the pulp without significantly reducing its antioxidant activities. Food products (chips, stick cracker, and jelly sweet) have then been developed and have got positive response from panelist.Research limitations/implicationsPulp of fruit is a potential source of antioxidants, i.e. carotenoids (pro vitamin A), vitamin C, and polyphenols. The pulp potentially can be used in fresh and dried form for functional food. The bitterness of the pulp can be significantly reduced using fermentation, sodium carbonate or PEG treatment. The pulp can be utilized for producing chips, crackers, and semi moist food products.Practical implicationsFirst, pulp of the palmyrah fruit can be easily extracted using water. Second, the bitterness of the pulp can be reduced by using traditional fermentation starter. Third, many type of food products can be developed using the palmyrah pulp.Social implicationsThis effort offers opportunity for farmers to optimize the use of palmyrah pulp for functional food. It will provide new jobs and increase the income of farmer at East Nusa Tenggara Province.Originality/valueThe study has revealed that pulp of palmyrah fruit is a source of antioxidants: carotenoids (pro vitamin A), vitamin C, and polyphenols. The pulp potentially can be used in fresh and dried form for functional food. The bitterness of the pulp can be significantly reduced using fermentation, sodium carbonate, and PEG. The pulp can be utilized for producing chips, crackers, and semi moist food products.

Extracting oil from used auto tires at low temperature after chemical treatment

This study presents an alternative tactic to pyrolysis of auto tires avoiding the use of high temperature and increasing the yield of oil produced. It depends on a simple chemical treatment of auto tires with sodium carbonate at low temperature (50°C) followed by solvent extraction. This treatment produced two folds of the yield that can be obtained using normal solvent extraction. The experimental results suggests that sodium carbonate is responsible for breakage of CS bond in the main structure of auto tires making solvent extraction easier. Additionally, the sulphur content of the extracted oil using the sodium carbonate treatment is reduced significantly (by about 28%) making the product more favorable energy/fuel source. This technique allows about 30wt.% of oil to be extracted from the used auto tires at 50°C under atmospheric pressure resulted from the breakage of the sulphur cross-linking by the sodium carbonate.

Pork Loin Treated with High Hydrostatic Pressure as a Food Processing Technology: Subacute Toxicity of the Freeze-Dried Powder and Cytotoxicity of the Methanol Extracts.

High hydrostatic pressure (HP) treatment is used in food processing owing to its sterilization effect. Meat or meat products are sterilized and become tender by HP processing. Therefore, the variety of HP-processed meat products has increased worldwide. However, little is known about the safety of HP-processed meat products. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of HP processing and HP combined with 0.4 M sodium carbonate treatment (HP-Na) on pork loins and to evaluate the subacute toxicity and cytotoxicity of these processing methods. In an in vivo study, we performed 90- and 180-day feeding tests in mice and did not detect any adverse effects in HP-processed and HP-Na-processed pork loins. In addition, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of HP-processed meats, and did not observe any obvious toxicity associated with pork loin extracts in vitro. These results suggest that HP is not associated with risk factors during processing.

Isolation of Arabidopsis Leaf Peroxisomes and the Peroxisomal Membrane.

To date, less than 150 proteins have been located to plant peroxisomes, indicating that unbiased large-scale approaches such as experimental proteome research are required to uncover the remaining yet unknown metabolic functions of this organelle as well as its regulatory mechanisms and membrane proteins. For experimental proteome research, Arabidopsis thaliana is the model plant of choice and an isolation methodology that obtains peroxisomes of sufficient yield and high purity is vital for research on this organelle. However, organelle enrichment is more difficult from Arabidopsis when compared to other plant species and especially challenging for peroxisomes. Leaf peroxisomes from Arabidopsis are very fragile in aqueous solution and show pronounced physical interactions with chloroplasts and mitochondria in vivo that persist in vitro and decrease peroxisome purity. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the isolation of Arabidopsis leaf peroxisomes using two different types of density gradients (Percoll and sucrose) sequentially that yields approximately 120 μg of peroxisome proteins from 60 g of fresh leaf material. A method is also provided to assess the relative purity of the isolated peroxisomes by immunoblotting to allow selection of the purest peroxisome isolates. To enable the analysis of peroxisomal membrane proteins, an enrichment strategy using sodium carbonate treatment of isolated peroxisome membranes has been adapted to suit isolated leaf peroxisomes and is described here.