Preparation, isolation, and characterization of cutin monomers and oligomers from tomato peels

Cutin:in tomato peels was depolymerized in methanolic base to yield cutin m onomers or a mixture of cutin oligomers. These products were isolated by ty pical solvent extraction methods or by precipitation, and the isolates were characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses. It was determ ined that the compositions of the isolates from both isolation procedures w ere similar, although solvent extraction gave higher yields. However, the p recipitation method, which is easy to carry out and avoids the use of undes irable organic solvents, may be preferable in commercial processes for reco vering these compounds.