[Effect of reduction by sodium borohydride on the structural characteristics of brown-rotted lignin].

The FTIR, UV-Visible, 1H NMR and GPC were used to study structural changes of brown-rotted lignin after sodium borohydride reduction. FTIR spectra showed that, after reduction, the band at 1,677 cm(-1) attributed to the conjugated carbonyl groups disappeared, and the band intensity at 1,715 cm(-1) attributed to the nonconjugated carbonyl groups decreased. On the other hand, the band at 1,509 and 1,603 cm(-1) attributed to aromatic skeletal vibration remained almost unchanged. UV spectra showed the decreased absorptions at 288 nm and 300-400 nm after reduction. 1H NMR spectra showed that, after reduction, the number of aromatic methoxyl and aromatic hydroxyls decreased, the number of aliphatic hydroxyls and the proton number attributed to many linkage structures connecting the phenylpropane units increased. GPC results showed that the molecular weight of reduced brown-rotted lignin increased and the molecular distribution got wider, as a consequence of the large molecular weight molecules generated during the reduction reaction. Our results suggest that the conjugated carbonyl groups can be totally reduced to the hydroxyl groups, but only some nonconjugated carbonyl groups can be reduced to the hydroxyl groups. The chemical structure of the brown-rotted lignin changed, but the benzyl ring kept stable. The condensation reaction took place during the sodium borohydride reduction process.

[FTIR studies of masson pine wood decayed by brown-rot fungi].

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to study the chemical changes of masson pine (pinus massoniana lamb.) decayed by the brown-rot fungus Wolfiporia cocos (Schwein.) Ryvarden & Gilbn. for different durations up to 23 weeks. The ratios of height of the lignin/holocellulose and holocellulose/lignin IR peaks were measured, and the klason lignin content and holocellulose content of the sound wood and brown-rotted wood with different level of decay were analyzed by wet chemical methods. The relationship between the two chemical components and the ratios of IR peak height was also established. FTIR spectra showed that, during the first 15 weeks of decay, the intensity of absorption bands at 1 736 and 1 372 cm(-1) ascribed to holocellulose decreased gradually, accompanied by a successive increase in the intensity of band at 1 510 and 1 225 cm(-1) ascribed to lignin. However, the intensities of holocellulose bands at 1736 and 1372 cm(-1) had a little increase, and the intensities of lignin bands at 1 510 and 1 225 cm(-1) had a very slight decrease after 15 weeks of decay. There was a very good correlation between the ratios of height of the lignin/holocellulose (I1510/1736, I1510/I1372, I1225/I736 and I1225/I1372) and the klason lignin content or holocellulose content. The coefficients of determination for the klason lignin content and the holocellulose content were 0.97-0.99 and 0.96-0.97, respectively. High coeffieients of determination were also obtained between the holocellulose/ lignin peak height ratios and the holocellulose content (R2 = 0.96). The above results suggest that, in the system studied, the klason lignin content and holocellulose content of wood decayed to differnent levels could be determined with reasonable accuracy by the FTIR technology.