A study of some methods at present used for the determination of lignin

Abstract

1. Methods for the determination of lignin which involve the use of 72% sulphuric acid have been reviewed. 2. Three methods in common use, viz. those of Norman & Jenkins (modified Common), Crampton & Maynard (modified Lancaster) and of Ellis, Matrone & Maynard were studied, and comparisons made of their relative effectiveness. 3. That of Crampton & Maynard was considered less satisfactory than the modified Norman & Jenkins procedure, on the grounds that it contains several sources of error, the most serious of which are the use of formaldehyde and the failure to remove pentosans. 4. The yields of lignin obtained with the method of Ellis, Matrone & Maynard are appreciably higher than those resulting from the modified method of Norman & Jenkins, by reason of the failure to use a protein correction factor. When such a correction is made, results from the two methods are comparable.