Plant biomass ultra-high performance analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC-Q-TOF-MS)

Abstract

Biomass denotes all biological produced matter. This includes plant and animal products, agricultural crops, aquatic plants, algae and all types of wastes and waste byproducts such as forest, agricultural and animal wastes or municipal and industrial organic waste. Biomass, mainly wood, was humanity’s earliest source of energy and is still the most widespread renewable energy source alternative to fossil fuel consumption [1]. Biomass is also a source of many valueadded products, including biofuels, sugar and sugar alcohols, solvents, flavors and aromas and other industrial chemicals [2]. The chemical structure of biomass is complex, heterogeneous, diverse and relatively insoluble, posing difficulties for their detailed analysis [3]. Analytical pyrolysis has been proven an appropriate for biomass direct and rapid characterization [4]. In this study, a novel analytical pyrolysis hyphen technique that combines a micro-furnace multishot pyrolysis unit (Py; Frontier Lab. Fukushima, Japan. Mod 3030D) with gas chromatography (GC: Agilent Technologies, Sta. Clara, CA, USA; Mod. 8890) coupled to ultra-high resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) is described and used to characterize biomasses from different plant species. Detailed fingerprints were obtained and the main biomass biogenic components identified with exact masses. These included main structural biopolymers from lignin and holocellulose, as well as peptides and proteins, waxes and other extractives like terpenes, terpenoids and phytosterols. For accurate identification, the instrument was operated at high (HI) and low ionization (LI) energy of 70 and 15 eV respectively. References [1] Demibras, A. (2004). The Importance of Biomass. Energy Sources, 26:361–366. DOI:10.1080/0090831049077406 [2] Deswarte C.J.F. (2015). Introduction to Chemicals from Biomass. 2nd ed. Chichester: Wiley. 114–281 pp. DOI: 10.1002/9781118714478 [3] Dayton D.C; Foust T.D. (2019). Analytical Methods for Biomass Characterization and Conversion. Thomas B.F. Ed. Emerging Issues in Analytical Chemistry. Elsevier B.V. DOI: 10.1016/C2017-0-03467-5 [4] San Emeterio et al. (2021). Evolution of Composting Process in Maize Biomass Revealed by Analytical Pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) and Pyrolysis Compound Specific Isotope Analysis (Py-CSIA). Appl. Sci. 11 (15). DOI: 10.3390/app11156684