Analysis of birch wood lignin by oxidative degradation

Abstract

The lignin in birch wood has been subjected to analysis by oxidative degradation after milling of wood samples in a Wiley mill and in a rotatory ball mill. For comparison milled wood lignin from birch has also been analysed. It was found that the type of milling affects both the total yield of degradation acids and their relative frequency of occurrence. These findings are interpreted as being due to a cleavage of aryl ether linkages during the milling procedure.