Structural features of macromolecular components of cork from Quercus suber L.

Diana G. Branco; Joana R. Campos; Luís Cabrita; Dmitry V. Evtuguin

doi:10.1515/hf-2019-0271

Article

Structural features of macromolecular components of cork from Quercus suber L.

Diana G. Branco , Joana R. Campos , Luís Cabrita and Dmitry V. Evtuguin

Published/Copyright: February 28, 2020

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Submit Manuscript Author Information

From the journal Holzforschung Volume 74 Issue 6

Abstract

The structural features of macromolecular components of cork (suberin, lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses) from Quercus suber L. used for the production of stoppers were assessed after their isolation and purification. Suberin is the major component of cork (ca. 44%) and is constituted mainly by hydroxy fatty acids (C₁₄–C₂₆). Cork lignin was found to be highly condensed (16.2%) and revealed a syringyl:guaiacyl:p-hydroxyphenyl (S:G:H) ratio of 26:71:3 with predominant β-O-4′ (0.38%), β-5′, β-β and tetrahydrofuran (THF) type (totally ca. 27%) structures. Cork lignin also has a remarkable amount of ferulic acid structures, which are considered the binding point between lignin and suberin. The cellulose of cork cells (17.2%) is a typical cellulose I polymorph with a degree of crystallinity (DC) of 70.3% and an average crystallite width of 3.5 nm. The major hemicellulose of cork is glucuronoxylan (near 6.0%) possessing a molar Xylp:MeGlcpA ratio of 14:1.

Keywords: cork; cork cellulose; cork lignin; Quercus suber L.; suberin

Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: This work was developed within the scope of the project NEWASHCORK (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-034048) financed by ANI and co-financed by FEDER and supported by CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, FCT Ref. UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.

References

Bento, M.F., Pereira, H., Cunha, M.Á., Moutinho, A.M.C., van den Berg, K.J., Boon, J.J., van den Brink, O., Heeren, R.M.A. (2004) Fragmentation of suberin and composition of aliphatic monomers released by methanolysis of cork from Quercus suber L., analysed by GC-MS, SEC and MALDI-MS. Holzforschung. 55:487–493.10.1515/HF.2001.080Search in Google Scholar

Bernards, M.A. (2002) Demystifying suberin. Can. J. Bot. 80:227–240.10.1139/b02-017Search in Google Scholar

Blumenkrantz, N., Asboe-Hansen, G. (1973) New method for quantitative determination of uronic acids. Anal. Biochem. 96:484–489.10.1016/0003-2697(73)90377-1Search in Google Scholar

Browning, B.L. Methods of wood chemistry. Vol. 2. Intersci. Publ., New York, 1967.Search in Google Scholar

Caritat, A., Gutiérez, E., Molinas, M. (2002) Influence of weather on cork-ring width. Soc. Sci. Med. 23:47–71.10.1093/treephys/20.13.893Search in Google Scholar

Conde, E., Cadahía, E., García-Vallejo, M.C., González-Adrados, J.R. (1998) Chemical characterization of reproduction cork from Spanish Quercus suber. J. Wood Chem. Technol. 18:447–469.10.1080/02773819809349592Search in Google Scholar

Evtuguin, D.V., Neto, C.P., Silva, A.M.S., Domingues, P.M., Amado, F.M.L., Robert, D., Faix, O. (2001) Comprehensive study on the chemical structure of dioxane lignin from plantation Eucalyptus globulus wood. J. Agric. Food Chem. 49:4252–4261.10.1021/jf010315dSearch in Google Scholar

Faix, O. (1991) Classification of lignins from different botanical origins by FT-IR spectroscopy. Holzforschung 45:21–27.10.1515/hfsg.1991.45.s1.21Search in Google Scholar

Fengel, D., Wegener, G. Wood. chemistry, ultrastructure, reactions. Kessel Verlag, Remagen, 2003.Search in Google Scholar

Fialho, C., Lopes, F., Pereira, H. (2001) The effect of cork removal on the radial growth and phenology of young cork oak trees. For. Ecol. Mange. 141:251–258.10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00333-9Search in Google Scholar

Figueiredo, A., Evtuguin, D., Saraiva, J. (2010) Effect of high pressure treatment on structure and properties of cellulose in eucalyptus pulps. Cellulose 17:1193–1202.10.1007/s10570-010-9454-2Search in Google Scholar

Gárcia-Vallejo, M.C., Conde, E., Cadahía, E., Fernandez de Simón, B. (1997) Suberin composition of reproduction cork from Quercus suber. Holzforschung 51:219–244.10.1515/hfsg.1997.51.3.219Search in Google Scholar

Gonzalez-Adrados, J.R., Gonzalez-Hernandez, F., Garcia de ceca, J.L., Caceres-Esteban, M.J., Garcia-Vallejo, M.C. (2008)Cork-Wine interactions studies: liquid absorption and non-volatile compound migration. J. Int. Sci. Vigne Vin. 42:161–166.10.20870/oeno-one.2008.42.3.815Search in Google Scholar

Holloway, P.J., Deas, A.H.B. (1973) Epoxyoctadecanoic acids in plant cutins and suberins. Phytochemistry 12:1721–1735.10.1016/0031-9422(73)80393-0Search in Google Scholar

Lei, Y., Jia, T., Song, X. (2012) Chemical composition of cork from Quercus suber variabilis. Wood Fiber Sci. 44:214–219.Search in Google Scholar

Lopes, M., Pascoal Neto, C., Evtuguin, D.V., Silvestre, A., Gil, A., Cordeiro, N., Gandini, A. (1998) Products of the permanganate oxidation of cork, desuberized cork, suberin and lignin from Quercus suber L. Holzforschung 52:146–148.Search in Google Scholar

Marques, A.V., Pereira, H. (2013) Lignin monomeric composition of corks from the barks of Betula pendula, Quercus suber and Quercus cerris determined by Py-GC-MS/FID. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis. 100:88–94.10.1016/j.jaap.2012.12.001Search in Google Scholar

Marques, A.V., Rencoret, J., Gutiérrez, A., del Río, J.C., Pereira, H. (2016) Ferulates and lignin structural composition in cork. Holzforschung 70:275–289.10.1515/hf-2015-0014Search in Google Scholar

Marques, A.V., Pereira, H., Meier, D., Faix, O. (1996) Isolation and characterization of a guaiacyl lignin from saponified cork of Quercus suber L. Holzforschung. 50:393–400.10.1515/hfsg.1996.50.5.393Search in Google Scholar

Neto, C.P., Cordeiro, N., Seca, A., Domingues, F., Gandini, A., Robert, D. (1996) Isolation and characterization of a lignin-like polymer of the cork of Quercus suber L. Holzforschung 50:563–568.10.1515/hfsg.1996.50.6.563Search in Google Scholar

Pereira, H. (1981) Studies on the chemical composition of virgin and reproduction cork of Quercus suber L. Anais do Instituto Superior de Agronomia. 25:1–8.Search in Google Scholar

Pereira, H. (1988) Chemical composition and variability of cork from Quercus suber L. Wood Sci. Technol. 22:211–218.10.1007/BF00386015Search in Google Scholar

Pereira, H. Cork: biology, production and uses. 1st edition, Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, 2007.10.1016/B978-044452967-1/50013-3Search in Google Scholar

Pereira, H. (2013) Variability of the chemical composition of cork. BioResources 8:2246–2256.10.15376/biores.8.2.2246-2256Search in Google Scholar

Pereira, H., Graça, J. (2000) Methanolysis of bark suberins: analysis of glycerol and acid monomers. Phytochem. Anal. 11:45–51.10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(200001/02)11:1<45::AID-PCA481>3.0.CO;2-8Search in Google Scholar

Shatalov, A.A., Evtuguin, D.V., Pascoal Neto, C. (1999) (2-O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-4-O-methyl-α-D-glucurono)-D-xylan from Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Carbohydr. Res. 320:93–99.10.1016/S0008-6215(99)00136-6Search in Google Scholar

Silva, S.P., Sabino, M.A., Fernandes, E.M., Correlo, V.M., Boesel, L.F., Reis, R.L. (2005) Cork: properties, capabilities and applications. Int. Mater. Rev. 50:345–365.10.1179/174328005X41168Search in Google Scholar

Tripp, V.W. (1971) Measurement of crystallinity. In: Cellulose and cellulose derivatives. Eds. Bikales, N.M., Segal, L. Part IV, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 305–323.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2019-10-31

Accepted: 2020-01-22

Published Online: 2020-02-28

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/hf-2019-0271

Keywords for this article

cork; cork cellulose; cork lignin; Quercus suber L.; suberin