Lignin of piassava (Attalea funifera) was analyzed by ¹H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The HGS-nature of this lignin was confirmed but p-coumarate units are also present in the lignin. Methoxyl and phenolic hydroxyl contents per phenylpropanic unit were determined by ¹HNMR spectroscopy to be 0.57 and 0.68, respectively and are in agreement with wet chemistry methods. A small extent of lignin condensation (35%) was explained by the high content of cinnamyl alcohol structures, evidenced by 13CNMR-DEPT. An extended C9formula for the piassava lignin was established to be <img SRC="http:/img/fbpe/jbchs/v11n5/a10img01.gif">
piassava fibers; lignin; NMR-spectroscopy
