Determination of Structural Polysaccharides and Lignln in Cattail Biomass

Preliminary research in this lab suggested that cattail biomass was a possible resource for the production of cellulosic ethanol. To rigorously assess the economic potential for making ethanol from cattails. Standard Laboratory Analytical Procedures developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory were used to characterize the extractives, structural carbohydrates and lignin in cattail leaves. Extractives were determined by using Soxhlet extraction with water followed by ethanol. Initial trials indicated that dried cattail leaves contained 20% water extractives and 6% ethanol extractives. The dried residual solid was autoclaved with 4% sulfunc acid for one hour. The mixture filtered through a filter crucible. The recovered liquid was analyzed for acid-soluble lignins by its uv absorbance and for carbohydrates by high performance liquid chromatography. The recovered solid was analyzed for acid-insoluble lignin and ash gravimetrically