Piassava fibers (Attalea funifera): NMR spectroscopy of their lignin

Lignin of piassava (Attalea funifera) was analyzed by H-1- and C-13-NMR spe ctroscopy. The HGS-nature of this lignin was confirmed but p-coumarate unit s are also present in the lignin. Methoxyl and phenolic hydroxyl contents p er phenylpropanic unit were determined by H-1- NMR spectroscopy to be 0.57 and 0.68, respectively and are in agreement with wet chemistry methods. A s mall extent of lignin condensation (35%) was explained by the high content of cinnamyl alcohol structures, evidenced by C-13-NMR-DEPT. An extended C-9 -formula for the piassava lignin was established to be (C9.00H2.25H3.73O0.89)-H-ar-O-al(OH)(0.69)(ph)(OH)(0.86)(al)(OCH3)(0.57).