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 two poplar species: Populus trichocarpa and Populus maximowiczii. 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: 130, 160 and 190°C in stainless steel reactor. Further chromatographic experiments were performed on the material subjected for steam explosion. 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, reversed size exclusion chromatography, steam explosion
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
Szadkowski D.
Lewandowska A.
Marchwicka M.
Zielenkiewicz T.
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