The degradation of lignin and quantitative aspects of ruminant digestion

Abstract

1. The technique for the quantitative estimation of lignin by digestion with 72% H2S04has been investigated. Two methods of pretreatment designed to eliminate interference products of carbohydrates and proteins were compared, namely (a) acid and pepsin and (b) acid detergent. The latter technique gave low lignin yields owing to the colloidal dispersion of lignin in the acid detergent treatment. Erroneous results arise from an inadequate digestion in 72% H2SO4. It was found preferable to filter the product lignin without prior dilution of the acid since white particles of material, assumed to be cellulose, flocculated from solution on dilution. Also there is some loss due to colloidal dispersion of lignin during refluxing in dilute acid.2. Analysis of soda lignin and sulphuric acid lignin preparations from hay, duodenal contents and faeces of sheep with exteriorized flow through a re-entrant duodenal fistula provided evidence for the degradation of lignin by digestive processes. Demethoxylation of lignin occurred mainly in the stomach, suggesting that this was the main site of breakdown.3. A new displacement method of measuring duodenal flow is described. Quantitative results obtained also indicate that lignin is degraded mainly in the stomach to the extent of about 10%.4. These results suggest that faecal lignin is an adequate marker for the estimation of duodenal flow, and hence of the extent of changes in the stomach and intestines respectively.