Proton NMR Methods in the Compositional Characterization of Polysaccharides

摘要

We have developed a new analytical method based on 'H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (proton NMR) spectroscopy to quantify the monosaccharide sugars released from lignocellulosic biomass (wood, pulp, agricultural residues, etc.) upon acid hydrolysis. Compared to other carbohydrate analysis procedures, the NMR protocol is relatively fast since actual acidic hydrolyzates are used, it requires no sample derivatization and provides excellent resolution of complex sugar mixtures. Using the a and p anomeric Cl protons of specific sugars as "probes" of their concentration, we have developed a computational algorithm which enables us to quantify the relative molar concentration of the following sugars in complex hydrolyzates: glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose, rhamnose, arabinose, glucuronic acid.