Abstract
We present facile methods to obtain purified sporopollenin exine capsules, and provide mass balances for classical and novel purification procedures. An ionic liquid, tetrabutyl phosphonium hydroxide turned out to be the most effective in removing the intine wall. The sporopollenin capsules were investigated by fluorescent microscopy, AFM, solid-state NMR and infrared Raman spectroscopy. The latter two methods showed that sunflower and rape exines have different proportions of O-aliphatic and aromatic constituents. Purified exine capsules were coated with functionalized fluorophores. The procedures presented in this paper could contribute to further spread of the applications of this hollow, and chemically highly resistant material.
Highlights
We present facile methods to obtain purified sporopollenin exine capsules, and provide mass balances for classical and novel purification procedures
The best P1-purified grains were investigated by fluorescence microscopy, while the best P1 + P2-purified exine shells were examined by a series of microscopy and instrumental analytical methods
Fluorescent and electron microscopy served for determining the presence and absence of the intine wall, while infrared Raman spectroscopy and solid-state NMR for deciphering some aspects of sporopollenin composition
Summary
We present facile methods to obtain purified sporopollenin exine capsules, and provide mass balances for classical and novel purification procedures. Samples of P2-purified sporopollenin grains, resulting from sunflower and rape, previously P1-purified by Soxhlet extractions and an aqueous wash, were investigated by 13C/1H CP-MAS NMR.
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