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Agronomical and post-harvest improvements of a sustainable production of furanic acid F2 (FuFA-F2) from Hevea brasiliensis Latex
Dissertation Abstract:
Hevea latex that contains high amount of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene), commonly known as natural rubber, is an essential raw material for producing many products that require elasticity and come from natural sources. The latex consists of various other components, including lipid (~1.3% by weight of fresh latex), with variations depending on the genotypes. In some genotypes, lipids containing a furan structure can be found. These furan fatty acids (FuFA) possess properties such as antioxidation and anti-inflammatory effects, with beneficial activity in preventing heart diseases, improving muscle mass, and preventing metabolic disorders. These properties are important for improving the quality of life, highlighting the potential of Hevea latex for implementing new high-value by-products. In this thesis, 52 rubber genotypes from a small-scale clone trials in Cambodia were studied to assess the genetic variability of the concentration of FuFA in latex. Genotypes related to the PB5/51 rubber strain were found to have the potential to produce FuFA, and the amount of FuFA found was positively correlated with the C16:1 fatty acid content. The highest FuFA concentration in fresh latex was found in IRCA323 clone (0.71% w/w latex) and the highest production per tapping was from PB235 genotype (2446 mg/tree/tapping). Moreover, in another experimental trial in Thailand, the influence 3 agronomical factors on the latex cell rubber metabolism (assessed by "Latex diagnosis"), and FuFA production was studied: season (monthly samplings on 2 agronomical years), tapping systems (S/2 d2, S/3 2d3, S/2 d3 with stimulation) and genotype (PB235, RRIM600, and RRIT251). As expected, genotype was the main factor influencing FuFA production, with PB235 yielding a high quantity of FuFA. The tapping system had minimal effect on latex cell rubber metabolism and FuFA production. The primary seasonal variation was an increase in latex yield throughout the agronomical year, accompanied by a rise in FuFA yield. No correlation was observed between latex cell rubber metabolism and FuFA content. Extraction and purification strategies for FuFA were investigated using PB235 latex stabilized with ammonia. It was found that extraction using ethyl acetate had comparable potential to chloroform-methanol in extracting FuFA. Using silica 60A as the stationary phase appears to be the most effective method for column chromatography to separate FuFA in the form of triglycerides (TG-FuFA) from other lipids found in latex. Moreover, the use of lipolytic enzymes such as GPLRP2 and cutinase for hydrolyzing FuFA-containing lipids and potentially recover FuFA as free fatty acids from stabilized latex were demonstrated. The structural analysis of TG-FuFA using NMR techniques confirmed the FuFA-F2 (9M5) structure. Thermal analysis of TG-FuFA using TGA under nitrogen conditions showed weight changes at 420°C, while under air conditions, weight changes occurred between 200-360°C and 370-530°C. The research findings indicate the possibility of developing rubber genotypes with higher FuFA content, identifying natural solvents suitable for FuFA extraction, and presenting the feasibility of FuFA purification through chromatography or enzymatic techniques.