Characterization of calcium oxalates generated as biominerals in cacti

The chemical composition and morphology of solid material isolated from various Cactaceae species have been analyzed. All of the tested specimens deposited high-purity calcium oxalate crystals in their succulent modified stems. These deposits occurred most frequently as round-shaped druses that some...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Monje, Paula V., Barán, Enrique José
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2002
Materias:
Química
Cactaceae
calcium oxalate
chemotaxonomy
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/83316
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
id I19-R120-10915-83316
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Química
Cactaceae
calcium oxalate
chemotaxonomy
spellingShingle Química
Cactaceae
calcium oxalate
chemotaxonomy
Monje, Paula V.
Barán, Enrique José
Characterization of calcium oxalates generated as biominerals in cacti
topic_facet Química
Cactaceae
calcium oxalate
chemotaxonomy
description The chemical composition and morphology of solid material isolated from various Cactaceae species have been analyzed. All of the tested specimens deposited high-purity calcium oxalate crystals in their succulent modified stems. These deposits occurred most frequently as round-shaped druses that sometimes coexist with abundant crystal sand in the tissue. The biominerals were identified either as CaC 2 O 4 .2H 2 O (weddellite) or as CaC 2 O 4 .H 2 O (whewellite). Seven different species from the Opuntioideae subfamily showed the presence of whewellite, and an equal number of species from the Cereoideae subfamily showed the deposition of weddellite. The chemical nature of these deposits was assessed by infrared spectroscopy. The crystal morphology of the crystals was visualized by both conventional light and scanning electron microscopy. Weddellite druses were made up of tetragonal crystallites, whereas those from whewellite were most often recognized by their acute points and general star-like shape. These studies clearly demonstrated that members from the main traditional subfamilies of the Cactaceae family could synthesize different chemical forms of calcium oxalate, suggesting a definite but different genetic control. The direct relationship established between a given Cactaceae species and a definite calcium oxalate biomineral seems to be a useful tool for plant identification and chemotaxonomy.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Monje, Paula V.
Barán, Enrique José
author_facet Monje, Paula V.
Barán, Enrique José
author_sort Monje, Paula V.
title Characterization of calcium oxalates generated as biominerals in cacti
title_short Characterization of calcium oxalates generated as biominerals in cacti
title_full Characterization of calcium oxalates generated as biominerals in cacti
title_fullStr Characterization of calcium oxalates generated as biominerals in cacti
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of calcium oxalates generated as biominerals in cacti
title_sort characterization of calcium oxalates generated as biominerals in cacti
publishDate 2002
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/83316
work_keys_str_mv AT monjepaulav characterizationofcalciumoxalatesgeneratedasbiomineralsincacti
AT baranenriquejose characterizationofcalciumoxalatesgeneratedasbiomineralsincacti
bdutipo_str Repositorios
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