FT-IR study of plant cell wall model compounds: pectic polysaccharides andhemicelluloses

Pectic polysaccharides and hemicelluloses extracted from plants were studie d in highly hydrated films on BaF2 discs. Distinctive absorption band maxim a in the mid-infrared region at 1200-800 cm(-1) were shown to be useful for the identification of polysaccharides with different structure and composi tion. Two series of the hexopyranose and pentopyranose monosaccharides, whi ch are the structural units of the plant cell wall polysaccharides, were al so studied by FT-IR spectroscopy in solution (i.e. comparable to the amorph ous state of the polymers). Their spectral data showed that the main IR ban d positions are influenced by the relative position of axial and equatorial (OH) groups on the pyranoid ring. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.