Chemical Properties
solid
Uses
Source of vanillin, syringic aldehyde, dimethyl sulfoxide. Extender for phenolic plastics, to strengthen rubber (esp for shoe soles), as oil mud additive, to stabilize asphalt emulsions, to precipitate proteins.
Description
An abundant phenylpropane polymer found in all vascular plants.
Lignin acts as the "glue" for cellulose and hemicellulose constit uents of plants, and the three substances comprise the major cell
wall components of cellulosic plants, e.g., woody and grassy
plants. These substances are bound tightly and may only be sep arated under vigorous conditions. Lignin finds use as a drilling
fluid additive, asphalt emulsion stabilizer, protein precipitant, rub ber strengthener and precursor for the synthesis of phenol, vanillin
and other products.
Occurrence
Lignin is a 3-dimensional type of polymer of phenol elements with heavy-duty intermolecular bonding by strongly divided molecules. The main sources of lignins are coniferyl, p-coumaryl and sinapyl alcohols[1]. The intensity of lignin in wheat stems and roots is 4.4 and 5.6, which is considerably stronger (p < 0.001) than in wheat leaves. Lignin differs in composition between species. For example, the composition of the aspen specimen is 5.9% hydrogen, 63.4% carbon, 0.7% ash (mineral components), and 30% oxygen (by difference), conforming to the formula (C31H34O11)n.
Agricultural Uses
The overall appearance of lichens is described as
crustose (they make a thin and flat crust on the
substratum), foliose or fruticose (upright, branched
forms, resembling shrubs). Lichens grow slowly from a
few millimeters to several meters each year. They
reproduce mostly by the development of apothecia or
perithecia, forming new lichens on germination of the
ascospores only in the presence of the algal partner in
whose absence the fungus dies.
Nearly 700 chemicals, which are unique to lichens,
help lichens to survive and ward off attacks by bacteria,
other fungi and grazing herbivores.
Lichens belong to soil-crust communities and help
stabilize soils, especially in desert areas. Cyanolichens contribute to fixing nitrogen to the ecosystem in which
they grow. LicheGare used for identifying the age of the
surface (on which they grow) by a technique, called
lichenometry..
Lichens are pollution indicators because of their
differential sensitivity to sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) and ozone, as well as their ability to absorb
and accumulate heavy metals and radionuclides..
Substances like pigments, toxins, antibiotics, etc. are
obtained from lichens, which are especially useful as a
source of dyes (for example, Roccella, providing litmus),
medicines and perfumes. Some lichens, like Iceland moss
and reindeer moss, are used as food in arctic regions.
References
[1] Muhammad Waheed Riaz. “Role of Lignin in Wheat Plant for the Enhancement of Resistance against Lodging and Biotic and Abiotic Stresses.” Journal of Thermal Stresses 60 1 (2023).
