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The influence of lignin content and structure on hemicellulose alkaline extraction for non-wood and hardwood lignocellulosic biomass

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Abstract

The extractability of hemicellulose from different lignocellulosics depends on the source of biomass. Differences in hemicellulose extractability are believed to be due to plant-specific hemicellulose arrangement alongside lignin within the cell wall. In this research, six biomasses were used to probe hemicellulose alkaline extractability as a function of the native lignin within the biomasses. Quantitative 2D-HSQC and 13C NMR analysis were performed to determine the S/G (S: syringyl, G: guaiacyl) and lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) linkages of milled wood lignin isolated from these biomasses. A strong negative correlation was observed between total lignin content and hemicellulose extractability, demonstrating that a greater presence of lignin in the original material results in lower xylan solubilization. In addition, a correlation between S/G of lignin and xylan dissolution was found within a group of hardwoods and within a group of non-woods. This suggests that monomeric constituency also influences xylan’s propensity for dissolution in 10% NaOH. Although there is some uncertainty in the quantification of LCC linkages, both non-woods and hardwoods exhibited negative correlations between alkaline-stable LCC linkages content and xylan extractability. This suggests that alkaline-stable LCC structures are associated with a decrease in the alkaline extractability of hemicellulose.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Southeastern Sun Grant Regional Program of the USDA-NIFA program [Grant Number 2013-38502-21423].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Wenhui Geng, Robert Narron, Xiao Jiang, Joel J. Pawlak, Hou-min Chang, Sunkyu Park, Hasan Jameel & Richard A. Venditti

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  1. Wenhui Geng
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  2. Robert Narron
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  3. Xiao Jiang
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  4. Joel J. Pawlak
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  5. Hou-min Chang
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  6. Sunkyu Park
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  7. Hasan Jameel
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  8. Richard A. Venditti
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Correspondence to Richard A. Venditti.

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Geng, W., Narron, R., Jiang, X. et al. The influence of lignin content and structure on hemicellulose alkaline extraction for non-wood and hardwood lignocellulosic biomass. Cellulose 26, 3219–3230 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02261-y

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