Abstract |
Because of the tremendous volume of wastes discharged from paper and pulping operations, lignin ranks high as an industrial contaminant of surface waters. However, little is known concerning its decomposition in natural biological processes. This is even more pronounced with regard to the biological decomposition of industrial forms of lignin in streams receiving these wastes. As a starting point for the estimation of lignin in microquantities, two methods were chosen for examination: (1) A spectroscopic method using absorptive properties in the ultraviolet range of the spectrum; and (2) A chemical method using properties of structure which would result in a colorimetric reaction. |