Interaction of hemicellulose with disordered regions along cellulose microfibril

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18723
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Wood science
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Horikawa Yoshiki 東京農工大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 特任准教授 (90637711)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: セルロース / ヘミセルロース / ミクロフィブリル / 重合度 / エンドグルカナーゼ / 赤外分光分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

For better biomass conversion, it is important to understand precise information about main components as well as interaction mechanism between these macromolecules. It has been accepted hemicelluloses interact with the surface of cellulose microfibril by hydrogen bonding. But strong alkaline treatment which is enough for cutting those linkages does not remove hemicellulose completely. We therefore verify other interaction of hemicellulose with cellulose microfibril by using endoglucanase which specifically hydrolyze amorphous region. Interestingly, cellulose DPs decreased with decrease of amounts of mannan and xylan, both of which are main components of softwood hemicellulose. The results obtained indicated hemicellulose partially interact with disordered regions existed along cellulose microfibril.

Free Research Field

木質科学