Application of inversed size exclusion chromatography for the determination pore size distribution in poplar (Populus sp.) wood and pulps before and after steam explosion

The aim of this paper is to apply the innovative technique, which is reversed size exclusion chromatography, to study the differences of porous structure of Poplar Sp. wood and pulps from Poplar Sp. wood after steam explosion. Reversed size exclusion chromatography consist on the application of analyzed material as the stationary phase in the chromatographic column with the solution of the set of polymers of known molecular mass as the mobile phase during chromatographic experiment. The volume of pores with specified radius may be determined on the basis of retention times of different polymers. Developed porous structure is an advantage in case of the material application as a substrate for the enzymatic hydrolysis. The information about pore distribution may be helpful for the proper choice of material for further processing.
Additionally, the influence of steam explosion on the porous structure development of these species was analyzed. Steam explosion is the experiment which develops porous structure of biomass. It was performed in three different temperatures: for pulps from Poplar Sp. wood 130, 145 and 160°C and for Poplar Sp. wood in 130, 160 and 190°C in stainless steel reactor. The changes in pore distribution could be observed and the most effective temperature of pretreatment could be chosen. Presented method of reversed size exclusion chromatography is relatively fast. Moreover the results show that its accuracy is satisfactory.

Keywords: pore distribution, poplar, ISEC’s- reversed size exclusion chromatography, steam explosion, pulps

Authors

Szadkowski J.
Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Wood Technology Department of Wood Science and Wood Protection, Warszawa

Radomski A.
Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Wood Technology Department of Wood Science and Wood Protection, Warszawa

Zielenkiewicz T.
Lewandowska A.
Witczak A.
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