Thermal fragmentation analysis of neutral polysaccharides and the presence of 1,6-anhydrooligosaccharides

Small quantities of pyrolysates were obtained from micro-scale off-line pyrolysis of the neutral polysaccharides: cellulose, amylose, laminaran, nigeran, and a mannan from ivory nut. The pyrolytic fragments were analyzed by desorption chemical ionization – mass spectrometry, trimethylsilyl derivatization – capillary gas chromatography (– ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry) and benzoyl derivatization – high pressure liquid chromatography. Intact 1,6-anhydrohexosemonosaccharide, and -disaccharide fragments were identified as major products. By using off-line analytical pyrolysis information on saccharide composition can be obtained from the formation of anhydromonosaccharide products while linkage information is obtainable from distinctive anhydrodisaccharide products. Keywords: pyrolysis, polysaccharides, 1,6-anhydrooligosaccharides, desorption chemical ionization, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography.