Abstract
The precise quantitative analysis of biomass derived sugars is a very important step in the conversion of biomass feedstocks to fuels and chemicals. However, the most accurate method of biomass sugar analysis is based on the gas chromatography analysis of derivatized sugars either as alditol acetates or trimethylsilanes. The derivatization method is time-consuming but the alternative HPLC method cannot resolve most sugars found in biomass hydrolysates. We have demonstrated for the first time that by careful manipulation of the HPLC mobile phase, biomass monomeric sugars (arabinose, xylose, fructose, glucose, mannose, and galactose) can be analyzed quantitatively and there is excellent baseline resolution of all the sugars. This was demonstrated for both standard sugars and corn stover hydrolysates. Our method can also be used to analyze dimmeric sugars (cellobiose and sucrose).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Agblevor FA, Evans RJ, Johnson KD (1994) Molecular beam massspectrometric analysis of lignocellulosic materials I. Herbaceous biomass. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 30: 125-144.
ASTM E 1758-01 (2003) Determination of carbohydrates in biomass by high performance liquid chromatography. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, 2003, Vol. 11.05. West Conshocken, PA: ASTM International.
ASTM E 1821-01 (2003) Determination of carbohydrates in biomass by gas chromatography. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, 2003, Vol. 11.05.West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.
Hames BR, Thomas S, Sluiter AD, Roth C, Templeton D (2003) Rapid biomass analysis: new tools for compositional analysis of corn stover feedstocks and process intermediates from ethanol production. In Davison BH, Finkelstein M, eds. Twenty-Fourth Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Vols. 105-108. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, pp. 5-16.
Milne TA, Chum HL, Agblevor FA, Johnson DK (1992). Standardized analytical methods. Biomass Bioenerg. 2: 341-366.
Sanderson MA, Agblevor F, Collins M, Johnson DK (1996) Compositional analysis of biomass feedstocks by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Biomass Bioenerg. 11: 365-370.
T249 cm-85 (1995) Carbohydrate composition of extractives-free wood and pulp by gas-liquid chromatography. TAPPI Test Methods 1994-1995. Atlanta GA: TAPPI Press.
Van Soest PJ, Wine RH (1967) Use of detergent in the analysis of fibrous feeds. IV. Determination of plant cell wall constituents. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 48: 785-790.
Walther T, Hensirisak P, Agblevor FA (2001) The influence of hemicellulosic sugars on xylitol production by Candida tropicalis. Bioresour. Technol. 76: 213-220.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Agblevor, F., Murden, A. & Hames, B. Improved method of analysis of biomass sugars using high-performance liquid chromatography. Biotechnology Letters 26, 1207–1211 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BILE.0000036596.95796.42
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BILE.0000036596.95796.42