Normal human serum lipoproteins of p < 1.006 g/ml (VLDL), 1.006 < p < 1.019 g/ml (LDLi), and 1.019 < p < 1.063 g/ml (LDI^) were subjected to delipidation by either diethyl ether (Et20) or a mixture of 1:3 ethanol-diethyl ether (EtOH-Et20) in the presence of 0.2 m sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The products were soluble in alkaline aqueous buffers with protein recoveries of 98-100% (Et20 treatment) and 85-90% (EtOH-Et20 treatment). Et20 removed essentially all cholesterol and triglycerides; EtOH-Et20 removed all lipids except for 1-3% phospholipids and traces of triglycerides. Small amounts of SDS remained