Figure 1.

Formation of inhibitors. Scheme indicating main routes of formation of inhibitors. Furan aldehydes and aliphatic acids are carbohydrate degradation products, while lignin is the main source of phenolic compounds, as indicated by guaiacyl (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) and syringyl (4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl) moieties found in many phenolics. While the contents of furan aldehydes and aliphatic acids are relatively easy to determine, the quantification and identification of phenolic compounds remain challenging. The insert shows the variety of peaks representing phenolic compounds found in a hydrolysate of Norwegian spruce, as indicated by analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).