Low-energy electron scattering by cellulose and hemicellulose components

We report elastic integral, differential and momentum transfer cross sections for low-energy electron scattering by the cellulose components beta-D-glucose and cellobiose (beta(1 -> 4) linked glucose dimer), and the hemicellulose component beta-D-xylose. For comparison with the b forms, we also obtain results for the amylose subunits alpha-D-glucose and maltose (alpha(1 -> 4) linked glucose dimer). The integral cross sections show double peaked broad structures between 8 eV and 20 eV similar to previously reported results for tetrahydrofuran and 2-deoxyribose, suggesting a general feature of molecules containing furanose and pyranose rings. These broad structures would reflect OH, CO and/or CC sigma* resonances, where inspection of low-lying virtual orbitals suggests significant contribution from sigma(OH)* anion states. Though we do not examine dissociation pathways, these anion states could play a role in dissociative electron attachment mechanisms, in case they were coupled to the long-lived pi* anions found in lignin subunits [de Oliveira et al., Phys. Rev. A, 2012, 86, 020701(R)]. Altogether, the resonance spectra of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose components establish a physical-chemical basis for electron-induced biomass pretreatment that could be applied to biofuel production.