The occurrence of steryl glycosides (SG) and acyl steryl glycosides (ASG) in Eucalyptus globulus wood was investigated. These compounds were analyzed as their trimethylsilyl ethers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Significant amounts of SG were identified whilst only traces of ASG could be detected. Sitosteryl 3-D-glucopyranoside and sitosteryl (6´-O-palmitoyl)-3-D-glucopyranoside were the major SG and ASG found in E. globulus wood. The presence of SG and ASG was also investigated after kraft cooking by analyzing unbleached pulp and process water samples. The GC/MS results also revealed the presence of sitosteryl 3-D-glucopyranoside in these samples. By contrast, no ASG could be detected after kraft cooking.

This study has been supported by the EU-Contract QLK5-99-1357. We thank ENCE (Pontevedra, Spain) for providing the samples analyzed. A.G. acknowledges a "Ramón y Cajal" contract of the Spanish MCYT.

Peer reviewed