Chemiluminescence accompanying the oxidation of hemicelluloses

On the series of hemicelluloses such as xyloglucans and xylans the effect of O-CH3 substitution and initial molar mass on chemiluminescence intensity measured under non-isothermal conditions in oxygen and nitrogen from 40 to 220 °C was examined. It was ascertained that the rate constants of oxidation determined from non-isothermal chemiluminescence experiments describe quite well the relative stability of the respective hemicellulose. Similarly as in the case of cellulose and pullulan increasing molar mass has an adverse effect on the intensity of the light emission.