Analysis of oligosaccharides in lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPAEC–MS)

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 133; pp. 221 - 231
• Main Authors: Coulier, Leon, Zha, Ying, Bas, Richard, Punt, Peter J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Cellulose - chemistry; Chromatography, Ion Exchange - methods; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HPAEC–MS; Hydrolysis; Lignin - chemistry; Lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates; Mass spectrometry; Mass Spectrometry - methods; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microbial engineering. Fermentation and microbial culture technology; Monosaccharides - analysis; Monosaccharides - chemistry; Oligosaccharides; Oligosaccharides - analysis; Oligosaccharides - chemistry; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Saccharum - chemistry; Yeast fermentation; Lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates; Yeast fermentation; Oligosaccharides; Mass spectrometry; HPAEC–MS; High performance; HPAEC-MS; Yeast; Oligosaccharide; Lignocellulosics; Biomass; Fermentation; Ion exchange chromatography; Hydrolysate
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.01.085

► HPAEC was coupled to MS to analyze carbohydrate composition of biomass hydrolysate. ► HPAEC–MS separated and classified many oligosaccharides in one experimental run. ► 21 different biomass hydrolysates were analyzed with HPAEC–MS. ► Disaccharides were the main remaining sugar forms of all 21 biomass hydrolysates. The carbohydrate composition of lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates is highly complex. High performance anion exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC–PAD), a widely used method for carbohydrate analysis, provides limited chemical information on the detected peaks. To improve the detection and increase the chemical information of the carbohydrates, HPAEC was coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). Using a pooled hydrolysate sample, it was shown that HPAEC–MS can separate and detect many oligosaccharides in one experimental run based on retention time and mass. The method was validated on its linearity, reproducibility and response factors. The analysis of a group of different biomass hydrolysates revealed that remaining disaccharides was the bottleneck of the hydrolysis process. As an analytical tool, HPAEC–MS provides information for the improvement of hydrolysate pretreatment method and enzyme cocktail quality. Besides, the consumption ability of microbial host strains for various mono- and oligosaccharides in hydrolysates can be assessed.