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Title: APPLICATION OF A NEW GC-MS METHOD FOR DETERMINING ESTER CONTENTS FOLLOWING BASE- AND ENZYME-HYDROLYSIS OF SUGAR BEET PULP AND PECTIN

Author
item Savary, Brett
item Newswanger, Brett
item Nunez, Alberto

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2004
Publication Date: 4/1/2004
Citation: Savary, B.J., Newswanger, B., Nunez, A. 2004. Application of a new gc-ms method for determining ester contents following base- and enzyme-hydrolysis of sugar beet pulp and pectin. Meeting Abstract for Sugar Processing Research Institute Conference, Atlanta, GA., April 4-7, 2004.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sugar beet pulp is composed largely of the cell wall polysaccharides pectin and associated arabinan-galactan, hemicelluloses, and cellulose. Beet pulp is a rich source of pectin, which is a valuable bioproduct that is used as a food gum and in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Pectin's functional properties are influenced by structural decorations such as methyl- and acetylesters. There is a critical need for specific and sensitive analytical methods capable of determining the content of these decorations, especially in research on new uses for U.S. agricultural processing residues such as sugar beet pulp. Current standard methodologies for these determinations need replacement since they are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and require large sample sizes. We have developed a simple, fast, and direct procedure for the simultaneous and sensitive determination of methanol and acetic acid present as esters in pectin and other cell wall polysaccharides. This method takes advantage of readily available deuterated isotopomers for use as internal standards, a suitable solid-phase microextraction fiber for headspace sampling, and the selectivity of a mass spectrometry detector. The method can also be applied for detecting and quantifying corresponding esterase activities upon treatment of pectin and sugar beet pulp. Details of the method and its application to enzyme analysis will be presented.