Richard J. Thomas

A study of lignification in loblolly pine tracheids by the SEM-EDXA technique

SummaryThe lignification process in different morphological regions of loblolly pine tracheids was studied by the SEM-EDXA technique. Prior to S2 layer formation, lignification was initiated in the cell corner middle lamella and compound middle lamella regions. Subsequently a rapid lignin deposition was observed in both regions, whereas secondary wall lignification was a more gradual process and initiated when the middle lamella lignin concentration was approximately 50% of maximum. Within the secondary wall, the S1 layer is lignified first. Then, lagging just behind cell wall formation, lignification of the S2 layer is initiated adjacent to the S1 layer and extends toward the lumen. Finally, the S3 layer lignified. Upon completion of lignification, the cell walls had a higher concentration of lignin in both the S1 and S3 layers than in the S2 layer.

Evaluation of the quantitative assay of lignin distribution by SEM-EDXA-technique

SummaryA method has been developed for the determination of lignin distribution in wood cell walls by studying bromine concentrations in 0.5 μm sections with scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDXA) technique. Evaluation of backscattering, absorption and fluorescence effects on quantitative assay of lignin distribution indicated that these effects may all be ignored, if relative comparisons are made. Thus, a relative ratio of the measured Br-L X-ray intensities directly provides bromine concentration ratio, from which the ratio of lignin concentrations in different morphological regions can be estimated. Additionally, the effect of electron beam bombardment on bromine was found to be negligible. Therefore, the SEM-EDXA technique provides quantitative information of lignin distribution with relatively high accuracy. The potential and limitations of this technique were also elucidated.

Topochemistry of delignification in Douglas-fir wood with soda, soda-anthraquinone and karft pulping as determined by SEM-EDXA

SummaryDelignification studies on 0.5 μm sections of Douglas-fir earlywood tracheids pulped by soda, soda-anthraquinone (soda/AQ) and kraft pulping processes were performed by determining bromine concentrations in various morphological regions with SEM-EDXA technique. Soda/AQ pulping was much more selective in removing lignin from the middle lamella regions than either soda or kraft pulping. However, up to 50% delignification, more lignin was removed from the secondary wall by soda or kraft, compared to soda/AQ pulping. The kinetics of lignin removal in the various morphological regions were established. Addition of AQ and sodium sulfide resulted in an earlier transition from a slow initial to a rapid bulk delignification, particularly in the middle lamella, and in an enhanced bulk delignification in the secondary wall. Anthraquinone was also found to promote residual delignification in the secondary wall, where sodium sulfide was not effective. The opposite was observed for the bulk delignification in the middle lamella, where only sodium sulfide addition improved the rate significantly. The great differences observed in the bulk delignification rates between middle lamella and secondary wall in soda pulping as well as their response to additives suggest structural differences between middle lamella and secondary wall lignins.

The ultrastructure of intercellular passageways in vessels of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera, L.) part I: Vessel pitting

SummaryThe newly matured intervessel pit membranes of yellow poplar contain distinct openings. With increasing age the membranes become progressively occluded with incrustations which obstruct the small openings. Openings were not detected in the vessel-to-ray parenchyma and vessel-to-fiber pit membranes at any age.