Determination of Kenaf ( Hibiscus Cannabinus L. ) Lignin in Crude Plant Material Using Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

Hibiscus cannabinus L. (kenaf) is a plant of the Malvaceae family and is a renewable resource for industry. The determination of kenaf lignin in crude plant material of four varieties using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) is described. In particular, a linear relationship was established between the peak area at 1506 cm −1 and the lignin content in the plant material. With the use of the DRIFTS method, lignin was found in the bark, wood, and pith of four kenaf varieties at 10.4 to 10.8%, 20.5 to 20.6%, and 14.9 to 15.3% of plant material, respectively.