Fructose and inulin: behaviour under analytical pyrolysis

Publication date: Available online 28 July 2016 Source:Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis Author(s): Arianna Massaro, Maria Perla Colombini, Erika Ribechini EGA-MS (evolved gas analysis–mass spectrometry) and Py(HMDS)-GC/MS (pyrolysis-gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry with in situ derivatisation using hexamethyldisilazane as a silylating agent) were used to study the behaviour under pyrolytic conditions of fructose, inulin and topinambour (Jerusalem artichoke), a tuber, in which inulin coexists with other organic and inorganic species. The aim was to acquire a complete picture of the chemical characteristics and reactivity of fructose and its polymers (fructans). In fact, fructans constitute the reserve carbohydrates of several botanical species and are important substrates for obtaining high value-added products. EGA-MS of inulin and topinambour provided information on their different thermal and chemical complexities. Despite tuber being constituted mostly by inulin, its thermogram was much more complex than obtained for inulin alone. The EGA curve of topinambour extended for a wider temperature range and provided mass spectra containing several peaks related to the fragmentation of compounds different from those obtained in the analysis of inulin. The evolution of levoglucosan clearly indicates the presence of glucose units in the tuber. The pyrolysis of fructose and inulin carried out by Py-GC/MS generated a high number of pyrolysis pr...
Source: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research