Polymeric compounds are challenging to analyse!

 

The molecular mass distribution (MMD), average molecular mass (Mx) of a polymer determine many of its properties. The chemical composition and functional groups are also of importance to understand how the polymer will function in different applications.

 

We have great experience in characterising polysaccharides like cellulose, xylan and other hemicelluloses as well as lignin, with respect to their MMD, Mx and chemical composition.

 

Common analytical requests concern the degree of order of cellulose and the size of cellulose fibril aggregates, and the degree of substitution (DS) and distribution of substituents for a given hemicellulose. Controlled degradation by enzymes or acid is used to characterise wood, pulp and paper with respect to their monosaccharide composition and lignin content. By enzymatic peeling off the fibre surface, the composition in the outer layer with respect to carbohydrates can be determined.

 

Besides of the MMD and Mx of lignin, complementary information about its content of phenol groups, carboxyl groups, carbohydrate content, methoxyl groups, elemental composition and ash content is also valuable.

 

Synthetic and natural polymeric materials that are non-soluble in common solvents can also be analysed with respect to its constituents (Py-GC/MS).