High performance thin layer chromatography determination of cellobiosan and levoglucosan in bio-oil obtained by fast pyrolysis of sawdust

In this work, high performance thin layer liquid chromatography (HTPLC) is applied to the determination of sugars in fast pyrolysis liquids (bio-oil) and fractions thereof. The proposed procedure allows the separation of anhydrosugar levoglucosan and cellobiosan, as well as glucose, arabinose, xylose and cellobiose. Pre-treatment and derivatization of samples are not necessary and volatile compounds present in bio-oil do not interfere with sugar analysis. The detrimental effect of the complex bio-oil matrix on columns and detector lifetime is avoided by using disposable HTPLC plates. Prior screening of glucose, present especially in aged and aqueous bio-oil fractions, is required to quantify cellobiosan without interference. Concentrations of levoglucosan and cellobiosan in bio-oil samples obtained from Pinus radiata sawdust were ranged between 1.27–2.26% and 0.98–1.96% respectively, while a bio-oil sample obtained from native wood contained a higher levoglucosan concentration.