Amino acids from cellulose reacted in radio-frequency plasmas containing hydrogen and nitrogen

Abstract

In a radio-frequency plasma of hydrogen and nitrogen, cellulose placed between the electrodes served as the source of carbon in the synthesis of a water-soluble film which was deposited downstream from the electrodes. The nitrogenous material was analysed by multiple internal reflectance infrared spectroscopy, electron emission spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Analysis showed that the material was almost entirely composed of amino acids. Seventeen different acids were detected with glycine, alanine, serine, and aspartic and glutamic acids predominant.