Abstracts Chemistry

The structure of lignin and its relation to other plant constituents.

by Morris. Lieff

For many years the existence in wood of a chemically combined lignin-carbohydrate complex has been suspected. As early as 1866 Erdmann (1) pointed out the possible existence of a chemical union between the various components of the cell wall. He had been impressed particularly with the difference between pure cotton cellulose and the cellulosic material in the wood. Erdmann placed much weight in the formulation of his compound hypothesis on the fact that the wood was highly insoluble in Schweizer's reagent. It strengthened his conviction that uncombined cellulose was not present in wood. [...]