Investigating Lignin Key Features in Maize Lignocelluloses Using Infrared Spectroscopy. Issue 12 (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chazal, Richard; Robert, Paul; Durand, Sylvie; Devaux, Marie-Françoise; Saulnier, Luc; Lapierre, Catherine; Guillon, Fabienne
• Is Part Of: Applied spectroscopy. Volume 68:Issue 12(2014)
• Page Start: 1342
• Page End: 1347
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Maize -- Cell walls -- Lignin -- p-coumaric acid -- Ferulic acid -- Thioacidolysis -- Infrared -- PLS; Spectrum analysis -- Periodicals; 543.505
• DOI: 10.1366/14-07472
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-7028

Abstract

Lignins and their cross-linking to hemicelluloses detrimentally affect the cellulose-to-ethanol conversion of grass lignocelluloses. Screening appropriate grass cell walls and their compositional changes during the various steps of the process calls for a high-throughput analytical technique. Such a performance can be fulfilled by Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy. In the present paper, a set of maize cell walls from mature stems were selected, including brown midrib samples. Lignin fractions were isolated by mild acidolysis to obtain a set of purified maize lignin standards. The lignin content and the percentage of lignin-derived p -hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and syringyl (S) thioacidolysis monomers were determined. In addition, the composition of cell wall polysaccharides, as well as the amount of ester-linked p -coumaric (CA) and ferulic (FA) acids, was measured by wet chemistry. Partial least square (PLS) analyses were applied to infrared and chemical data of cell walls. The resulting models showed a good predictive ability with regard to the lignin content, to the frequency of S (or G) thioacidolysis monomers, and to the level of ester-linked CA of maize cell walls. The loading plots and regression coefficients revealed relevant infrared absorption bands.