On the aggregative behavior of 4-O-Methyl-D-Glucurono-D-Xylan in aqueous solution: from optimized solvation at hot temperature to cold gelation

On the aggregative behavior of 4-O-Methyl-D-Glucurono-D-Xylan in aqueous solution: from optimized solvation at hot temperature to cold gelation | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article On the aggregative behavior of 4-O-Methyl-D-Glucurono-D-Xylan in aqueous solution: from optimized solvation at hot temperature to cold gelation Raphaël BURET, Mathieu MADAU, Virginie DULONG, Didier LE CERF, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8724368/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The physicochemical characterization of aqueous solutions of 4-O-methyl-D-glucurono-D-xylan (MGX), extracted from beech wood sawdust, has been conducted by Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) on-line coupled with Multi Angle Light Scattering (MALS) analyses. The chromatograms clearly evidence a strong aggregative behavior with the presence of two populations: the first one, less predominant (6.7–25 wt%), is made of large size structures, with number average molar mass (Mn) and mass average molar mass (Mw) higher than 10 6 g.mol − 1 , while the second one, more predominant (75–93.3 wt%), is made of chains displaying relatively lower molar masses. In this study, we demonstrate that suitable solvation conditions can be reached through heating at 80°C in pure water. In this case, the 2nd population accounts for 93.3 wt% of the sample, with molar masses of 22.700 and 36.900 g.mol − 1 respectively for Mn and Mw, corresponding to those from the literature obtained in non-aggregative conditions (i.e. DMSO or aqueous alkaline media). Conversely, stronger aggregation has been evidenced with lower solvation temperature, higher MGX concentration or in the presence of salts (notably with KCl). Finally, an unexpected cold gelation of semi-dilute concentrated MGX aqueous solution (150 g.L − 1 ) has been observed through rheology with a large hysteresis, characterized by a G’/G’’ crossing at 15.5°C when cooling and at 37.5°C when heating back to the initial temperature of 50°C. 4-O-methyl-D-glucurono-D-xylan Size exclusion chromatography – Polymer aggregative behavior Hydrogel – Cold gelation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SupportinginformationBuretetal.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 28 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 28 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 29 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 28 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8724368","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":582581433,"identity":"eb869dbc-84cd-4b20-b1c0-b631838e7be7","order_by":0,"name":"Raphaël BURET","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Rouen","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Raphaël","middleName":"","lastName":"BURET","suffix":""},{"id":582581434,"identity":"b3c98029-c646-4048-8f06-934dd1f15fb8","order_by":1,"name":"Mathieu MADAU","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of 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