The relationship of brown humus to lignin

Summary A fraction of organic matter called brown humus was studied in relation to plant lignins. Infrared analysis, methoxy content, and presence of certain phenolic groups showed that this material contains a lignin structure. Decomposition of corn roots showed that one of the first parts of the lignin molecule to be decomposed is by the loss of methoxy groups probably from 2,6-dimethoxyphenol part of the molecule. Studies withP. ochro chloron. Showed two transformations occurred in the decomposition of the lignin molecule: — (1) A demethylation and (2) a formation of carbonyl groups.