Size-exclusion chromatography of lignocellulosics in wheat straw

The application of Fractogel TSK HW-40, a semi-rigid, hydrophilic vinyl polymer, and Vydac 214 TP, a wide-pore high-performance liquid chromatographic packing, to the fingerprinting of extracts of wheat straw, both untreated and treated with sodium hydroxide, is reported. Whereas separation on Fractogel TSK is typical size-exclusion chromatography, chromatography on the Vydac column is influenced by both adsorption effects and the molecular size of the solutes. Chromatograms showing significant differences among samples are discussed in relation to sample pretreatment and extraction, molecular weight distribution and electrochemical properties of the main peak.