Removal of Wood Components During Chlorite Delignification of Black Spruce

Abstract

The pattern of component removal has been studied for black spruce during delignification by acidified sodium chlorite at 70 °C. Special emphasis was placed on the determination of the acid soluble portion of lignin remaining in the sample.It was found that the chlorite procedure is selective in removing lignin only during the first 60% of delignification. At later stages of delignification some glucomannan is dissolved. A so-called holocellulose of 70% yield is thus composed of about 40% cellulose, 13% glucomannan and galactan, 12% xylan and other carbohydrates, and 5% lignin (all based on the original wood).