Binding of lead and copper(II) cations to hemicelluloses of rye bran

Abstract

Several fractions of acid hemicelluloses isolated from rye bran were characterized by molar ratios of saccharides (D-Xyl, L-Ara, D-Glc, D-Gal) and 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid and protein content. Binding of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions to these acid polysaccharides was considered according to function (M)b = f([M2+]f), expressing the relationship between the amount of metal (M)b bound to 1 g of the substance and the concentration of free ions [M2+]f in the equilibrium solution and according to the association degree β of these cations with carboxyl groups of uronic acid at a stoichiometric ratio of both components in the system under investigation. Acid hemicelluloses contained only a very small portion of uronic acid ((COOH) 0.05-0.18 mmol g-1); the model polysaccharide, 4-O-methyl-D-glucurono-D-xylan of beech, was substantially richer in uronic acid content ((COOH) 0.73 mmol g-1). Consequently, the amount of lead and copper bound to acid hemicelluloses is very small ((M)b 0.017-0.025 mmol g-1) at [M2+]f = 0.10 mmol l-1. On the other hand, much greater amount of cations ((M)f 0.09-0.10 mmol g-1) was bound to the glucuronoxylan. The association degree β was like with the majority of samples (β = 0.31-0.38). The amount of lead and copper(II) bound to acid hemicelluloses from rye bran is several times lower than that bound to dietary fiber isolated from vegetables (cabbage, carrot), rich in pectic substances.