PIASSAVA FIBERS - (ATTALEA FUNIFERA) .1. CHEMICAL-ANALYSIS, EXTRACTION AND REACTIVITY OF ITS LIGNIN

Piassava fibers have approximately 14% humidity and contain 0.8% ash, 0.7% extractives, 45.0% Klason lignin and 28.6% cellulose, with a tota l of 54.4% holocellulose. Microanalysis (54.5% C; 5.84% H; 0.52% N) sh ows a higher carbon content than normally found in plant materials. To tal hydroxyl groups are 14.0% of the material. The content of methoxyl groups (4.8% or 10.7% of the lignin) and phenolic hydroxyl groups (3. 5% or 7.8% of the lignin) are in the expected range. The calculated C- 9 formula for the lignin is C9H5.35O0.92(OHphen)(0.72)(OCH3)(0.54). Th e average molecular weight for the dioxane/HCl extracted lignin is in the range of 3,500 dalton and that for the NaOH liguin is 1,100 dalton , but their FTIR spectra are similar. Using an alkaline (pH 10) dioxan e/water (1: 1 v: v) mixture and pressure (6 MPa), 46% of the piassava can be solubilized in 15 min at 250 degrees. After 30 min at 280 degre es, 88% of the piassava is converted to give a heavy oil with 56% yiel d. At 200 degrees and 10 Pa, 71% of this oil can be distilled. The dis tillate was analyzed by GC/MS and five phenols were identified in good individual yields.