Simultaneous Separation and Quantification of Linear Xylo- and Cello-Oligosaccharides Mixtures in Lignocellulosics Processing Products on High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography Coupled with Pulsed Amperometric Detection

A simple one-step method was developed for rapid separation and quantification of the linear xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and cello-oligosaccharides (COS) mixtures by using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). By exploiting small ion-exchange behavioral differences of various oligosaccharide components on the CarboPac PA200 column, a two-stage binary gradient elution program of NaOAc-NaOH solution was established. Subsequently, nine linear oligomers were separated simultaneously and readily within 30 min, in the order of: xylobiose, cellobiose, xylotriose, xylotetraose, cellotriose, xylopentaose, cellotetraose, xylohexaose, and cellopentaose. The method was applied successfully in the analysis and determination of different lignocellulosics processing products. The system provides a convenient and powerful analytical tool for technical research and development on polysaccharide components bioconversion in lignocellulosic biomass processing.