Association of Xylan with α-Cellulose in Jute

Abstract

DAS et al. ¹ have recently reported (without reproducing any photograph) the presence of xylose (and also arabinose) in the α-cellulose from jute, in contradiction to our finding². Formic acid, used instead of sulphuric acid for hydrolysis, is stated to have achieved the result. To check this, we have repeated both the procedures ; experimental facts do not, however, indicate the superiority of formic acid. Purified α-cellulose (‘furfural’ content 0.7 per cent) from jute, hydrolysed with 85 per cent formic acid at 135° for 12 min., as was done by Das et al., was used for obtaining the photograph reproduced ; the original spots (in triplicate), marked with X, represent the hydrolysate and Xyl (in duplicate) stands for pure xylose. Neither xylose nor arabinose could be detected. Whatman No. 1 filter paper strip, 57 cm. long, was employed, n-butanol, acetic acid and water being the solvent ; the sugars were fixed with aniline hydrogen phthalate.