Appendix II 319 



Ligno-celluloses. The authors have shown that the colour 

 reactions of the lignocelluloses with phenols are not characteristic 

 of the lignone complex as such, but are due to break-down products 

 in all probability to hydroxyfurfurals. These bodies have been 

 prepared by the interaction of furfural and hydrogen peroxide in 

 presence of iron salts : they give reactions with phloroglucinol 

 and resorcinol, identical with those of the lignocelluloses in their 

 natural state. (Cross, Bevan,and Briggs. Berl. Ber.33, 2132.) These 

 reactive constituents of the natural lignocelluloses are easily 

 removed by treatment with oxidants in regulated small propor- 

 tions, the lignocellulose undergoing only small losses of weight, 

 and retaining its essential chemical characteristics unchanged. 



Further studies of the lignone complex in the case of the jute 

 fibre have somewhat modified the conclusions set forth in the first 

 edition, and the text has been accordingly rewritten in those 

 portions. 



The furfural-yielding constituent is more probably a cellulose 

 or an anhydride, and appears with the cellulose complex when 

 isolated by the chlorination process. The lignone is thus to be 

 considered as distinct from this /3-cellulose and from the hydroxy- 

 furfurals. These latter may be formed from the /3-cellulose by 

 processes of hydrolysis and condensation, and oxidation occurring 

 * naturally.' It is certain that active oxygon is always present on 

 the surface of the lignocelluloses, indicating a slow and progressive 

 auto-oxidation of the fibre substance. The observations and 

 ingenious investigations of W. J. Russell (Nature, vol. 65, p. 200) 

 have emphasised these phenomena by showing that they are 

 associated with * emanations ' which act upon sensitive photo- 

 graphic surfaces, and produce an image of the objects. Russell 

 considers that the evidence so far accumulated points to these 

 emanations being hydrogen peroxide. 



The problem of the constitution of the characteristic lignine 

 complex is so far simplified. Its most important constituent 

 groups are : (i) the benzenoid group, combining directly with 

 chlorine ; and (2) a group or groups of approximate formula 

 C 2m H 2m O m , which break down by gentle oxidation and hydrolysis 

 finally to acetic acid as a main product, with probable formation 

 of ketonic acids of low molecular weight as intermediate stages. 

 The complex contains a minimum proportion of hydroxyl groups 

 and of methoxyl groups. 



Some further light has been thrown on the relationships of 



