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Lignin

  • Chapter
Fundamentals of Thermochemical Biomass Conversion

Abstract

Lignin is deposited by woody plants for the purpose of providing the growing plant with mechanical support, of sealing a water conducting system which links roots with leaves (needles),1–3 and for protecting wood against degradation by weathering4 and biodegradation.5 Lignified plants contain between 20 and 30% lignin, depending on species, age, juvenile vs. mature wood, sapwood vs. hardwood, and normal vs. reaction wood.1,6 The 20–30% lignin content by weight corresponds to approximately 35–45% by energy content since lignin is the polymeric cell wall component with the highest energy content, consisting of more than 60% carbon and around 30% oxygen. This is contrasted by hemicellulose and cellulose with carbon contents of less than 50% and oxygen contents of nearly 50%.7

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Products, and Polymer Materials and Interfaces Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

    Wolfgang G. Glasser

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  1. Wolfgang G. Glasser
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada

    R. P. Overend

  2. Solar Energy Research Institute, Colorado, USA

    T. A. Milne

  3. Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Washington, USA

    L. K. Mudge

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© 1985 Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd

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Glasser, W.G. (1985). Lignin. In: Overend, R.P., Milne, T.A., Mudge, L.K. (eds) Fundamentals of Thermochemical Biomass Conversion. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4932-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4932-4_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8685-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4932-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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