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Matrix‐assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Natural and Synthetic Lignin
Author(s) -
Bocchini Paola,
Galletti Guido C.,
Seraglia R.,
Traldi P.,
Camarero S.,
Martinez A. T.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0231(19960715)10:9<1144::aid-rcm614>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - lignin , chemistry , mass spectrometry , cellulose , hemicellulose , desorption , matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization , matrix (chemical analysis) , organic chemistry , chemical engineering , chromatography , adsorption , engineering
Lignin is one of the components, with cellulose and hemicellulose, of cell walls in all terrestrial plants. Lignin is an amorphous, three‐dimensional, polyphenolic molecule charged with the function of giving strength and impermeability to the plant structure. The determination of its molecular weight and structure is still problematic owing to the difficulties in isolation of lignin from the other cell wall constituents. The present work reports the experimental conditions for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the characterization of different types of natural lignins and of one synthetic lignin. A nitrogen laser (λ=337 nm) was used for ion desorption and sinapinic acid (3,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid) was chosen as the best matrix for lignin analysis. Data on the molecular weight distribution of oligomers in lignin and information on the monomeric constituents of different types of lignin are shown.