(584cp) Standard-Free Quantification of Lignin Monomers Using GC with Dual Quantitative Carbon Detection and Mass Spectrometry

Lignin depolymerization generates a complex mixture of oxygenated monomeric compounds, posing significant challenges for quantitative analysis using traditional Gas Chromatography–Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Effective Carbon Number (ECN) methods. These conventional approaches often suffer from variable detector responses due to the presence of heteroatoms and lack the ability to quantify unknown compounds. In this study, we demonstrate the application of Gas Chromatography with Quantitative Carbon Detection and FID (GC-QCD/FID), utilizing the Polyarc™ reactor, for the quantification of lignin-derived monomers produced from Organosolv Poplar Lignin (OPL) and poplar biomass via hydrogenolysis, solvolysis, and reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF). The QCD reactor converts all organic compounds to methane prior to detection, enabling a uniform carbon response across structurally diverse products. This approach provides accurate, consistent carbon yield measurements for both known and unidentified monomeric products, offering a robust analytical tool for evaluating lignin depolymerization processes.