A simple microwave extraction method for the isolation and identification of plant opal phytoliths

Abstract

We present a new extraction method for opal phytoliths, which has high potential to support qualitative analyses of the unaltered properties of single opal phytoliths. Opal phytoliths have to remain in their original solution or an equivalent to protect their amorphous (SiO2nH2O) molecular structure. Fresh leaf material was heated in distilled water in a microwave oven for 3-4 hours, stirred and then strained through a plankton sieve (50-μm mesh). After purification, the plant tissue matrix was successfully degraded. Single opal phytoliths of Phragmites australis and Arundo donax as well as cell debris were isolated. © 2012 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.