Detection and Identification of Lignosulfonate Depolymerization Products Using UPLC-QTOF-MS and a Self-Built Database

In this study, based on depolymerization solution of commercially available sodium lignosulfonate under mild conditions, an efficient method for the chromatographic separation of lignosulfonate depolymerization products was firstly established. The self-built database contains 18 lignin-based standards and the information on their names, formulas, structures, retention times, fragments, and corresponding MS E data was developed. By searching the online spectral data in a novel informatics database, a total of nine aromatic lignin depolymerization products were identified automatically. Thus, a fast standard protocol for detection and identification of real lignin degradation products was preliminary built.