3.1.7 hemicellulose, n—a polymeric, branched carbohydrate
with mixed five and six carbon monomeric sugars, typically
with a xylose or mannose backbone.
3.1.7.1 Discussion—The glucan portion of hemicellulose
present in biomass samples is not quantified under the condi-
tions prescribed in this method. Additionally, hemicellulose as
analyzed by this method will include measurement of any free
monosaccharides present in the herbaceous biomass.
3.1.8 herbaceous biomass, n—non-woody plant materials,
to include grasses, agricultural residues, and grains, which are
fast growing and are harvested or die back at the end of each
growing cycle.
3.1.9 mannose, n—a six-carbon monosaccharide common in
biomass.
3.1.10 monosaccharide, n—any of the class of sugars that
cannot be hydrolyzed to give a simpler sugar.
3.1.11 polysaccharide, n—a carbohydrate whose molecules
consist of a long chain of sugar residues bonded together.
3.1.12 six-carbon monosaccharide, n—a simple sugar with
six carbon atoms also known as a hexose.
3.1.13 xylose, n—a five-carbon monosaccharide common in
biomass.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method consists of a two-step acid hydrolysis
prior to measurement of xylose, galactose, arabinose, and
mannose by HPLC.
4.2 The hydrolysis conditions have been optimized to en-
sure maximum hemicellulose hydrolysis while minimizing
degradation of the monosaccharides.
5. Interferences
5.1 This test method employs non-specific acid hydrolysis
conditions which do not differentiate between polysaccharide
sources. All polysaccharides comprising xylan, galactan,
arabinan, and mannan that are exposed to the hydrolysis
conditions will be included in the final hemicellulose result.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Analytical balance, with precision to 0.1 mg.
6.2 Water bath, capable of maintaining 85 °C 62 °C.
6.3 Ice water bath.
6.4 HPLC system, equipped with refractive index detector.
6.5 Bio-rad HPX-87H HPLC column with Micro-Guard
Cation H pre-column guard filter, or equivalent carbohydrate
analysis HPLC column.
6.6 Centrifuge, capable of maintaining 5000 rpm with mini-
mum of a 20 cm diameter rotor.
6.7 Vortex mixer, variable speed, capable of reaching
3000 rpm.
7. Reagents and Materials
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade materials shall be
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
all reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee on
Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where
such specifications are available.
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Other grades may be used,
provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently
high purity to permit its use without lessening the accuracy the
determination.
7.1.1 D-(+)-xylose, ≥99.5 % (GC).
7.1.2 D-(-)-arabinose, ≥99.5 % (GC).
7.1.3 Sulfuric Acid, 60 % w/w.
7.1.4 Water, HPLC grade, 0.2 µm filtered (or deionized
18 MΩ⁄cm filtered water).
7.1.5 Axion HPLC Calibration Standard Kit LQC-HPLC-
HEM-K, or equivalent.
7.1.6 Axion HPLC Validation Standard LQC-HPLC-
HEM-V, or equivalent.
7.2 Materials:
7.2.1 Positive displacement automatic pipettors, capable of
multi-dispensing with corresponding compatible tips.
7.2.2 Sample racks, to accommodate tubes with outer diam-
eter (OD) of 16 mm.
7.2.3 Conical polypropylene centrifuge tube, 50 mL, with a
tightly fitting screw cap.
7.2.4 Autosampler vials and caps, 2 mL fill volume.
7.2.5 Disposable syringes, 3 mL, fitted with 0.2 µm nylon
syringe filters.
8. Hazards
8.1 Handle sulfuric acid carefully to avoid contact with skin
or clothing, as it is corrosive.
8.2 Adhere to the general safety measures that apply to all
chemical substances. For more information regarding the safe
usage and handling of the reagents and components, please
refer to the associated safety data sheets (SDS).
8.3 This test method should not be carried out by anyone
other than a trained and experienced laboratory analyst.
9. Sampling, Test Specimens, and Test Units
9.1 Before analysis, test material should be prepared ac-
cording to Practice E1757.
9.2 Care shall be taken to ensure a representative sample is
used for analysis. The material should be at room temperature
before sampling.
9.3 Prior to calculation, total solids should be analyzed
according to either Test Method E1756 or AOAC 935.29.
10. Calibration and Standardization
10.1 Prepare a series of calibration standards containing at a
minimum xylose and arabinose using the required concentra-
tion range in Table 1. A minimum of five calibration points and
a calibration validation standard are required.
5
ACS Reagent Chemicals, Specifications and Procedures for Reagents and
Standard-Grade Reference Materials, American Chemical Society, Washington,
DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by the American Chemical
Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset,
U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, U.S. Pharma-
copeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, MD.
E3503 − 25
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