HEMICELLULOSES OF WHEAT STRAW

Abstract

Various hemicellulose fractions were extracted from wheat straw holocellulose (extractive and pectin free) by successive treatments with cold and hot water, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% potassium hydroxide and were recovered by precipitation with alcohol. Approximately 25% of the holocellulose material was removed, one half being in the hot water soluble fraction. The original holocellulose, the extracted residue, and the recovered fractions were analyzed for pentosan, uronic acid anhydride, acetyl, methoxyl, and ash content. In general, the more soluble fractions had a higher uronic acid and methoxyl content; the less soluble had a higher pentosan content and a more negative rotation [Formula: see text]. Intrinsic viscosity measurements indicated that all fractions had a degree of polymerization of 25–30. Hydrolysis of the main fraction yielded D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-glucose; in addition D-galactose was found in the water soluble fractions. Quantitative determinations of the sugars in the hydrolyzates showed that D-xylose predominated, with L-arabinose, D-glucose, and D-galactose (when present) in progressively smaller amounts. On hydrolysis all fractions yielded an acid-resistant uronic acid complex that contained D-xylose and a uronic acid tentatively identified as monomethoxyl galacturonic acid.