Thermal degradation of lignins isolated from wood

The lignin preparations isolated from pine and beech wood were subjected to a thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The lignin preparations were also used to obtain samples of different degrees of thermal degradation characterised by mass-losses in the interval from 10 to 60% of their initial mass. These samples were subjected to elementary analysis and the content of methoxy groups. It was observed that the content of these functional groups declined in products in which the degree of thermal degradation exceeded 30%, which corresponds to temperatures over 450°C. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.