Chemoenzymatic Fractionation and Characterization of Pretreated Birch Outer Bark

In this study, the application of different chemical and enzymatic treatment methods for the fractionation of the birch outer bark components was evaluated. More specifically, untreated and steam exploded, hydrothermally and organosolv treated bark samples were incubated with enzyme mixtures that consisted of cellulases, hemicellulases and esterases, and the effect of enzymes was analyzed with 31P NMR and {13C–1H} HSQC. The biocatalysts performed the cleavage of ester bonds resulting in reduction of methoxy and aliphatic groups in the remaining solid fraction, whereas the aromatic fraction remained intact. Moreover, the suberin and lignin fraction were isolated chemically and their properties were characterized by gas chromatography (GC–MS), 31P NMR, {13C–1H} HSQC and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). It was demonstrated that the lignin fraction was enriched in guaiacyl phenolics but still contained some associated aliphatic acids and carbohydrates, whereas the suberin fraction presented a polymodal pattern of structures with different molecular weight distributions. This work will help in getting a deeper fundamental knowledge of the bark structure, the intermolecular connection between lignin and suberin fractions, as well as the potential use of enzymes in order to degrade the recalcitrant bark structure toward its valorization.