334
15 Polyesters
patents. Relatively non-complex methods for extraction of cutin, which require the
use of acids and alkali treatment at high temperature, consume moderate quantities of
water. The cultivation of the feedstock for cutin production has beneficial impacts on
environment such as water remediation properties such that the process of production
of cutin would include cultivation of aquatic plants which also serve to clean the
aquatic environment.
Despite not yet being fully commercially exploited, cutin has some significant applications in, especially the food and the pharmaceutical industry where its
mechanical properties as well as the role of the barrier/protective role of the cuticle
can be mimicked for human use. Furthermore, the side products from cutin extraction from aquatic plant cuticle are also useful. Compounds such as palmitic acid
and linolenic acids find applications in areas such as soap making, biodiesel and
antiinflammatory agent production.
In a global market that is increasingly demanding more plant-based alternatives
to the dwindling fossil-derived products, particularly those that are either injected or
indirect contact with the body or food, cutin is another one of the vast biopolymer
resources the aquatic ecosystem offers.
15.2 Occurrence in Nature
Cutin occurs in nature as part of plant cuticle which is a protective coating on the surface plants. The cuticle protects plant from environmental stress and diseases and aids
water retention. It is adhered to the plant epidermal wall through a proteinaceous layer
with which it is interconnected. Cutin is a branched polymer, cross-linked through
ester linkages between the chains forming the polymer network. Cutin content in
most plants is between 40 and 80% dry weight of the cuticle; around 600 μg of cutin
can be obtained per m
2 of a plant surface. The cuticle is measured to be between 0.5
and 40 μm thick. It is a composite of polysaccharides, biopolyester (cutin) waxes and
phenolic compounds. The cutin served as the polymeric continuous phase, holding
the other components of the cuticle. Figure 15.1 is a simplified representation of the
cutin location on the plant surface. This is simplified since the pectinaceous layer is
not always distinctly separated as the figure suggests.
Until the recent studies on cutin in aquatic plants, cutin has been widely regarded as
a feature only in terrestrial plants with a sole purpose of aiding water retention. Studies
Fig. 15.1 A representation of cuticle layer next to the epidermal wall
15 Polyesters
patents. Relatively non-complex methods for extraction of cutin, which require the
use of acids and alkali treatment at high temperature, consume moderate quantities of
water. The cultivation of the feedstock for cutin production has beneficial impacts on
environment such as water remediation properties such that the process of production
of cutin would include cultivation of aquatic plants which also serve to clean the
aquatic environment.
Despite not yet being fully commercially exploited, cutin has some significant applications in, especially the food and the pharmaceutical industry where its
mechanical properties as well as the role of the barrier/protective role of the cuticle
can be mimicked for human use. Furthermore, the side products from cutin extraction from aquatic plant cuticle are also useful. Compounds such as palmitic acid
and linolenic acids find applications in areas such as soap making, biodiesel and
antiinflammatory agent production.
In a global market that is increasingly demanding more plant-based alternatives
to the dwindling fossil-derived products, particularly those that are either injected or
indirect contact with the body or food, cutin is another one of the vast biopolymer
resources the aquatic ecosystem offers.
15.2 Occurrence in Nature
Cutin occurs in nature as part of plant cuticle which is a protective coating on the surface plants. The cuticle protects plant from environmental stress and diseases and aids
water retention. It is adhered to the plant epidermal wall through a proteinaceous layer
with which it is interconnected. Cutin is a branched polymer, cross-linked through
ester linkages between the chains forming the polymer network. Cutin content in
most plants is between 40 and 80% dry weight of the cuticle; around 600 μg of cutin
can be obtained per m
2 of a plant surface. The cuticle is measured to be between 0.5
and 40 μm thick. It is a composite of polysaccharides, biopolyester (cutin) waxes and
phenolic compounds. The cutin served as the polymeric continuous phase, holding
the other components of the cuticle. Figure 15.1 is a simplified representation of the
cutin location on the plant surface. This is simplified since the pectinaceous layer is
not always distinctly separated as the figure suggests.
Until the recent studies on cutin in aquatic plants, cutin has been widely regarded as
a feature only in terrestrial plants with a sole purpose of aiding water retention. Studies
Fig. 15.1 A representation of cuticle layer next to the epidermal wall