Analytical studies on the carbohydrates of grasses and clovers. V.—Development of a method for the estimation of cell‐wall polysaccharides

The cell‐wall polysaccharides, i.e. the carbohydrate fraction of herbage that is insoluble in alcohol and cold water, are determined by a two‐stage acid‐hydrolysis procedure. In the first stage, treatment with N‐sulphuric acid effects solution and hydrolysis of the greater part of the hemicellulose fraction, with a maximum variability in any one sugar of 7% of the total hydrolysed. The remaining ‘cellulose’ residue is saccharified with 72% sulphuric acid during the second stage, with agreement within 5%.