THE METHOXYL, GROUP IN CERTAIN 

 LIGNOCELLULOSES. 



ALVIN S. WHEELER. 



Extended study of lignified tissue has led to the belief that 

 it is essentially a chemical compound and the term lignocel- 

 lulose is applied to it. The molecule is a very complex one 

 and among the characteristic features of it is the constant 

 proportion of methoxyl, OCH 3 . Benedikt and Bamberger* 

 first brought this fact into prominence. The proportion of 

 methoxyl, calculated to methyl, is approximately two and one 

 half per cent. I have extended the work, making determina- 

 tions in woods mostly native to this country. The Tree of 

 Heaven, China Tree and Paulownia originated in Eastern 

 Asia but are now found wild in this country. The Crab 

 Wood and Wild Lime are native to the Bahama Islands and 

 the West Indies and the samples were obtained from Dr. W. 

 C. Coker. 



The determinations were made according to the method of 

 Zeisel. In most cases the wood was taken from small stems. 

 It was cut into small chips, after removal of the bark and 

 dried to constant weight in a steam oven. The values 

 obtained correspond to those of Benedikt and Bamberger. 

 The results are as follows: 



Persimmon, Diospyros Virginiana, I>. 1.95 



Umbrella Tree, Magnolia tripetala, L. 2.57 



Sassafras, Sassafras Sassafras (L) Kant 2.44 



Chinquapin, Castanea pumila, (X) Mill 2.16 



Buttonwood, Platanus occidentalis, L 2.23 



Witch Hazel, Hamamelis Virginiana, L 2.67 



Pig Nut Hickory, Hicoria glabra, (Mill) Britton 2.32 



♦Monatsh. of Ohem. II., 260-267. 



1905] 33 



