Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Polysaccharide Composition in Cellulosic Fiber Materials by Enzymatic Peeling/High-Performance Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

• Published in: Biomacromolecules Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 3146 - 3151
• Main Authors: Sjöberg, John, Potthast, Antje, Rosenau, Thomas, Kosma, Paul, Sixta, Herbert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.11.2005
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Carbohydrates; Carbohydrates - chemistry; Cellulose - chemistry; Chromatography; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Composition; Electrophoresis; Electrophoresis, Capillary - methods; Enzymes; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Hydrolysis; Kraft pulp; Macromolecular Substances - chemistry; Mixtures; Plant Structures - chemistry; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - chemistry; Sulfites - chemistry; Technology of polymers; Textile fibers; Time Factors; Ultraviolet Rays; Xylans - chemistry; High performance; Zone electrophoresis; Cross section; Capillary electrophoresis; Coupled method; Cellulose hydrate; Cellulose; Experimental study; Monosaccharides; Natural fiber; Depth profile; Sulfite pulp; Enzymatic digestion; Chemical composition; Measurement method
• ISSN: 1525-7797; 1526-4602; 1526-4602
• DOI: 10.1021/bm050471j

A combined enzymatic, chemical, and analytical approach was used to determine the cross-sectional carbohydrate composition in cellulosic fibers. The outer surface of cellulosic fibers was enzymatically removed layer-by-layer with precise quantitative control, and the monosaccharides in the peelings were subsequently analyzed by high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) after precolumn derivatization with a UV label. This method was applied to dissolving pulps and regenerated cellulose fibers, with special emphasis on the cross-sectional distribution of hemicelluloses. Commercially available enzyme solutions were used, resulting in a reproducible peeling. Significant differences were found in the hemicellulose distribution across the fiber of different dissolving pulps, dependent on both natural source (beech or spruce) and preparation process (acidic sulfite cook or prehydrolysis kraft cook). Among the dissolving pulps, beech prehydrolysis kraft pulp showed the highest enrichment of surface xylan. Similar, albeit smaller, differences were noticed between various regenerated fibers (viscose, viscose Modal, and Lyocell):  a thin hemicellulose-rich outermost layer was found in all the regenerated fibers studied.