Hemicelluloses fractionation

Recently, the alkah-soluble hemicelluloses of hardwood dissolving pulps have been investigated [28]. Their composition and molecular properties depended on the pulp origin and steeping conditions. The MGX of the j8-fraction from press lye had a low uronic acid content (ratio of MeGlcA to Xyl is about 1 20). The molecular weight of the hemicellulose fractions varied between 5000 and lOOOOg/mol. 

In a recent paper [213], various GM-rich hemicellulose fractions containing 26-64% mannose and 1.4-2.2% galactose were isolated from ramie (Boehmeria nivea), which is a perennial grass. This is unexpected, because hemicelluloses of grasses contain predominantly xylans [4]. 

Rha, Ara and Gal are the neutral sugar components from all the fractions. Xyl is not present in Fla and is significantly present in the hemicellulose fractions, indicating that this monosaccharide is component of hemicellulosic polymers. Chemical composition of the water fractions were determined (Table V). High protein contents and the presence of O-acetyl-groups were observed in four aqueous fractions. Neutral sugar and uronic acid composition points to inclusion of these polymers in the class of pectic polysaccharides. 

The molecular weight distribution of cell wall polysaccharides was estimated by gel filtration with a TOSOH TSK gel G4000 PWXL (7.8 x 300 mm) column equilibrated and eluted with 0.05 M sodium acetate, 0.01 M EDTA, 0.05 M NaCl (pH 5.0) in polyuronide and 0.05 M sodium citrate, 0.1 M NaCl (pH 5.5) in the hemicellulose fraction. Samples (1 mg/ml) of 100 ml were injected. The eluate was monitored by a refractive index detector (Shimadzu R1D-6A, Kyoto, Japan) and collected at the fraction size of 0.4 ml. 

Polysaccharides from which 2,4,6-trimethyl-D-glucose can be prepared by methylation and hydrolysis include a polyglucose isolated from the cell wall of brewer s yeast,166 laminarin168 and the hemicellulose fraction of Iceland moss.188... 

Xyloisosaccharinic acid [2,4-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)butanoic acid] is one of the major, alkaline-degradation products of wood xylan, in particular, that of birch. The disaccharide, 2-O-D-xylopyranosyl-L-arabinose, which was isolated as a hydrolysis product of corn-cob hemicellulose, is readily degraded at 100° in 15 mM Ca(OH)2 to acidic products, primarily saccharinic acids. Xylan oligosaccharides from corn-cob hemicellulose produced 2,4-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)buta-noic acid when exposed to 0.02 M Ca(OH)2 at 25°. However, it was noted that the xylan, itself, was stable at 100° in Af NaOH. The major acidic component of the hemicellulose fraction of slash pine Pinus el-liotti) after acid hydrolysis was identified as 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic... 

One of the favored organisms for study of cellulolysis by Trichoderma is T. reesei. Consequently, many mutant strains which hyperproduce cellulase have been obtained by treatment with ultraviolet light, gamma irradiation, the linear accelerator, diethyl sulphate and N-methyl-N -nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine (7). Whereas much of the study of T. reesei has been with cellulose as substrate, it is relevant to consider the other fractions of natural lignocelluloses hemicellulose and holocellulose (the combined cellulose and hemicellulose fraction). 

The hetero-l,4-linked xylans (or heteroxylans) constitute a well-characterized group of polysaccharides which form the major components of the hemicellulosic fractions of terrestrial plants (1-4). Softwoods are an exception, where the heteroxylans can be present as a minor component of the total hemicelluloses. They have been isolated from grasses, legumes, ferns, softwoods and hardwoods, and collectively may constitute up to 35% of the total dry weight of higher land plants (4). As such the heteroxylans rank second to cellulose in abundance as naturally occurring organic chemicals in the biosphere. The heteroxylans are closely associated with other... 

Furfural is derived from biomass by a process in which the hemicellulose fraction is broken down into monomeric 5-carbon sugar units which then are dehydrated to form furfural. 

Over 50 percent of the total polysaccharide in the peel, 60 percent or more of that of the pulp and over 90 percent of that of the juice are extracted with the pectic substance, the balance being hemicellulose. Separate hydrolysis of these fractions, indicated that some monosaccharides, such as arabinose and galactose, were found in all fractions. Xylose occurred mostly in the hemicellulose fraction whereas galacturonic acid and glucose were the main monosaccharides in the pectic substances and the cellulose fractions, respectively (Table VII). 

The hemicellulose fraction of plant food and feed materials appears to be of considerably greater importance in determining nutritional value of such foods and feeds than has been generally recognized. 

From this type of schematic representation it would be expected that a more highly branched xylan chain would give more potential for reaction of the arabinose residues, either through crosslink formation or by Maillard-type reactions. Indirect evidence supporting this concept can be derived from pentosan analysis of the hemicellulose fraction of grasses and legumes. 

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