Tuesday, May 1, 2012: 9:00 AM
Waterbury Ballroom, 2nd fl (Sheraton New Orleans)
Direct infusion electrospray ionization – ion mobility – high resolution mass spectrometry (DIESI-IM-HRMS) has been evaluated as a rapid technique for the determination of total molecular composition in “whole-sample” biomass hydrolysates and extracts. IM-HRMS data reveal a high molecular weight range of biomass components (up to 1100 m/z) and provide trendline isolation of feedstock-derived components from those introduced during pretreatment. Chemical formulas were obtained from HRMS exact mass measurements (with typical mass error less than 5 ppm) and were consistent with structural carbohydrates and other lignocellulosic degradation products. Analyte assignments are supported via IM-MS collision-cross-section measurements and trendline analysis (e.g., all carbohydrate oligomers identified in a corn stover hydrolysate were found to fall within 6% of an average trendline).