Analysis of celluloses, plant holocelluloses, and wood pulps by size-exclusion chromatography/multi-angle laser-light...

Size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser-light scattering and refractive index detection (SEC/MALLS/RI) provides the number- and weight-average molar masses, molar mass distributions, conformations, and linear/branched structures of polymers. In the case of pure celluloses including highly crystalline tunicate and alga celluloses, and hemicellulose-rich plant holocelluloses, soaking in ethylene diamine (EDA) and subsequent solvent exchange to N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) though methanol is effective for complete dissolution in ∼8% (w/w) LiCl/DMAc. SEC/MALLS/RI analysis can, therefore, be applied to pure celluloses, chemical wood pulps, and plant holocelluloses after dissolution in ∼8% (w/w) LiCl/DMAc, dilution to 1% (w/v) LiCl/DMAc and membrane filtration. All pure celluloses and the high-molar-mass cellulose fractions of hardwood and grass holocelluloses have linear and random-coil conformations and various average molar masses and molar mass distributions depending on the cellulose and holocellulose resources. In contrast, Japanese cedar (i.e., softwood) holocellulose and softwood bleached kraft pulp have alkali-stable cellulose/glucomannan branched structures in the high-molar-mass fractions.