Minimally invasive evaluation of cellulose paper degradation using water-soluble carbohydrates

Abstract

In this study, aqueous extracts of cotton linter paper and "Hanji", which is a Korean traditional paper, were analyzed to evaluate the deterioration of paper cultural heritage. We quantified cello-oligosaccharides, which are water-soluble low-molecular-weight carbohydrates, in extracts from the two types of paper. The degree of polymerization (DP) of aged paper was also evaluated based on the absolute molecular weight of cellulose. The content of water-soluble cello-oligosaccharides (COS) varied according to the degree of cellulose degradation. Therefore, the cellulose hydrolysis rate could be predicted from the linear relationship between the cellulose hydrolysis rate and the water-soluble COS content. The DP calculated using the predicted cellulose hydrolysis rate was accurate if the amount of cello-oligosaccharides extracted exceeded the limit of quantification of COS. Consequently, among the many minimally invasive methods available, this methodology may provide an indirect method to evaluate cellulose degradation by quantifying the carbohydrates dissolved in extracts of cotton linter paper and Hanji.