Structure of Hemicellulose

When compared with cellulose, it has lower degree of polymerization, more readily soluble in acid and alkali and non-fibrous. On hydrolysis, it predominantly yields xyloses and other monosaccharides. Hemicelluloses include xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, glucomannan and xyloglucan. It  is easily hydrolyzed by dilute acid or alkali or enzyme hemicellulase (such as endo-xylanase, beta-xylosidase, and alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase for hemicellulose). Important sources of hemmicellulose include seed coats of corn, cereal brans, wheat oats, barley and rice. Other possible sources are skins of sugar beets, potatoes and tomatoes.