Effect of gamma-radiation on a water-insoluble arabinoxylan

The effect of gamma radiation on a water-insoluble L-arabino-D-xylan has been studied by functional group and structural analysis using chemical methods and IR spectroscopy, by sugar composition analysis, and by viscosity measurements. The gamma irradiation has been shown to modify both sugar components of the arabinoxylan, accompanied by cleavage of the glycosidic linkages, depolymerization, and sugar decomposition, depending on the applied radiation dose, thus increasing the molecular and chemical heterogeneity of the polysaccharide. (author)