Borate-assisted alkaline extraction of hemicellulose from switchgrass with enhanced structural stability and purity

Jinhua Ding; Shu Yang; Xianzhi Meng; Chang Geun Yoo; Luna Liang; Naijia Hao; Yunqiao Pu; Chongwen Yu; Arthur J. Ragauskas

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146180

Borate-assisted alkaline extraction of hemicellulose from switchgrass with enhanced structural stability and purity

Jinhua Ding
, Shu Yang
, Xianzhi Meng
, Chang Geun Yoo
, Luna Liang
, Naijia Hao
, Yunqiao Pu
, Chongwen Yu
, Arthur J. Ragauskas

Biomaterials and Biomass Characterizatio

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Valorization of non-cellulosic polysaccharides is crucial for enhancing the economic competitiveness of biorefinery processes. In this study, a mixture of boric acid and sodium hydroxide was employed to efficiently extract hemicellulose from holocellulose switchgrass. Borate-assisted alkaline extraction resulted in a higher xylan content (59.5 %) compared to conventional alkaline extraction. The hemicellulose fractions derived from the borate-alkaline treatment exhibited a higher molecular weight (M_w = 51.2 kDa) and a relatively lower degree of polydispersity (1.28), indicating improved structural stability. The presence of borate had a protective effect against chain scission, preserving glucuronic acid residues and increasing galactose content. Additionally, borate improved hemicellulose purity, with up to 74.1 % of the extracted hemicellulose being suitable for further enzymatic applications. Extended extraction time further enhanced hemicellulose recovery, reaching 97.9 % under NaOH/boric acid conditions while maintaining structural integrity, as confirmed by SEM, FTIR and 2D HSQC NMR analyses. These findings provide insights into the role of borate in optimizing hemicellulose extraction and improving its potential for bioconversion processes.

Original language	English
Article number	146180
Journal	International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Volume	321
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146180
State	Published - Sep 2025

Funding

JD was partially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China ( 2022YFA0912303 ). The authors (JD, CY) acknowledge the fellowship from the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) and the generous funding support from the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System for Bast and Leaf Fiber Crops (CARS-16). CGY's work was supported by the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry toward this research. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. YP and AJR were partially supported by the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) and Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) , U.S Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers supported by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research in the DOE Office of Science. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

Keywords

Borate alkaline
Glucuronic acids
Hemicellulose extraction
PAA delignification
Switchgrass solid residue

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10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146180

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@article{7069a90d4fd0424d96dc1181af4556ee,

title = "Borate-assisted alkaline extraction of hemicellulose from switchgrass with enhanced structural stability and purity",

abstract = "Valorization of non-cellulosic polysaccharides is crucial for enhancing the economic competitiveness of biorefinery processes. In this study, a mixture of boric acid and sodium hydroxide was employed to efficiently extract hemicellulose from holocellulose switchgrass. Borate-assisted alkaline extraction resulted in a higher xylan content (59.5 \%) compared to conventional alkaline extraction. The hemicellulose fractions derived from the borate-alkaline treatment exhibited a higher molecular weight (Mw = 51.2 kDa) and a relatively lower degree of polydispersity (1.28), indicating improved structural stability. The presence of borate had a protective effect against chain scission, preserving glucuronic acid residues and increasing galactose content. Additionally, borate improved hemicellulose purity, with up to 74.1 \% of the extracted hemicellulose being suitable for further enzymatic applications. Extended extraction time further enhanced hemicellulose recovery, reaching 97.9 \% under NaOH/boric acid conditions while maintaining structural integrity, as confirmed by SEM, FTIR and 2D HSQC NMR analyses. These findings provide insights into the role of borate in optimizing hemicellulose extraction and improving its potential for bioconversion processes.",

keywords = "Borate alkaline, Glucuronic acids, Hemicellulose extraction, PAA delignification, Switchgrass solid residue",

author = "Jinhua Ding and Shu Yang and Xianzhi Meng and Yoo, \{Chang Geun\} and Luna Liang and Naijia Hao and Yunqiao Pu and Chongwen Yu and Ragauskas, \{Arthur J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146180",

language = "English",

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T1 - Borate-assisted alkaline extraction of hemicellulose from switchgrass with enhanced structural stability and purity

AU - Ding, Jinhua

AU - Yang, Shu

AU - Meng, Xianzhi

AU - Yoo, Chang Geun

AU - Liang, Luna

AU - Hao, Naijia

AU - Pu, Yunqiao

AU - Yu, Chongwen

AU - Ragauskas, Arthur J.

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - Valorization of non-cellulosic polysaccharides is crucial for enhancing the economic competitiveness of biorefinery processes. In this study, a mixture of boric acid and sodium hydroxide was employed to efficiently extract hemicellulose from holocellulose switchgrass. Borate-assisted alkaline extraction resulted in a higher xylan content (59.5 %) compared to conventional alkaline extraction. The hemicellulose fractions derived from the borate-alkaline treatment exhibited a higher molecular weight (Mw = 51.2 kDa) and a relatively lower degree of polydispersity (1.28), indicating improved structural stability. The presence of borate had a protective effect against chain scission, preserving glucuronic acid residues and increasing galactose content. Additionally, borate improved hemicellulose purity, with up to 74.1 % of the extracted hemicellulose being suitable for further enzymatic applications. Extended extraction time further enhanced hemicellulose recovery, reaching 97.9 % under NaOH/boric acid conditions while maintaining structural integrity, as confirmed by SEM, FTIR and 2D HSQC NMR analyses. These findings provide insights into the role of borate in optimizing hemicellulose extraction and improving its potential for bioconversion processes.

AB - Valorization of non-cellulosic polysaccharides is crucial for enhancing the economic competitiveness of biorefinery processes. In this study, a mixture of boric acid and sodium hydroxide was employed to efficiently extract hemicellulose from holocellulose switchgrass. Borate-assisted alkaline extraction resulted in a higher xylan content (59.5 %) compared to conventional alkaline extraction. The hemicellulose fractions derived from the borate-alkaline treatment exhibited a higher molecular weight (Mw = 51.2 kDa) and a relatively lower degree of polydispersity (1.28), indicating improved structural stability. The presence of borate had a protective effect against chain scission, preserving glucuronic acid residues and increasing galactose content. Additionally, borate improved hemicellulose purity, with up to 74.1 % of the extracted hemicellulose being suitable for further enzymatic applications. Extended extraction time further enhanced hemicellulose recovery, reaching 97.9 % under NaOH/boric acid conditions while maintaining structural integrity, as confirmed by SEM, FTIR and 2D HSQC NMR analyses. These findings provide insights into the role of borate in optimizing hemicellulose extraction and improving its potential for bioconversion processes.

KW - Borate alkaline

KW - Glucuronic acids

KW - Hemicellulose extraction

KW - PAA delignification

KW - Switchgrass solid residue

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011728366

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146180

DO - 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146180

M3 - Article

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SN - 0141-8130

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JF - International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

M1 - 146180

ER -

Borate-assisted alkaline extraction of hemicellulose from switchgrass with enhanced structural stability and purity

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Keywords

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