The composition and structure of lignin in different tissues - phellem (cork), phloem and xylem (wood) - of Quercus suber was studied. Whole cell walls and their respective isolated milled lignins were analyzed by pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2D-NMR) and derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC). Different tissues presented varied p-hydroxyphenyl:guaiacyl:syringyl (H:G:S) lignin compositions. Whereas lignin from cork has a G-rich lignin (H:G:S molar ratio 2:85:13), lignin from phloem presents more S-units (H:G:S molar ratio of 1:58:41) and lignin from xylem is slightly enriched in S-lignin (H:G:S molar ratio 1:45:55). These differences were reflected in the relative abundances of the different interunit linkages. Alkyl-aryl ethers (β–O–4´) were predominant, increasing from 68% in cork, to 71% in phloem and 77% in xylem, as consequence of the enrichment in S-lignin units. Cork lignin was enriched in condensed structures such as phenylcoumarans (β-5´, 20%), dibenzodioxocins (5-5´, 5%), as corresponds to a lignin enriched in G-units. In comparison, lignin from phloem and xylem presented lower levels of condensed linkages. The lignin from cork was highly acetylated at the γ-OH of the side-chain (48% lignin acetylation), predominantly over G-units; while the lignins from phloem and xylem were barely acetylated and this occurred mainly over S-units. These results are a first time overview of the lignin structure in xylem, phloem (generated by cambium), and in cork (generated by phellogen), in agreement with literature that lignin biosynthesis is flexible and cell specific.

The objective of this chapter is to provide a concise overview of lignin composition and structure in different species and materials (wood, barks and nonwood plants). It includes a brief review on the lignin precursors and their polymerization as well as of the analytical tools used for lignin characterization from wet chemical to spectroscopic methods. Wood of gymnosperms is characterized by high lignin content (25–35%) and a HG-type of lignin with more guaiacyl (G) units and a small portion of p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units. Wood of angiosperms has a lignin content of 15–28%, with a GS-lignin having different proportions of syringyl (S) units. Nonwoody monocotyledon species have different lignin content (9–20%) and a HGS type of lignin, characterized by a high proportion of H units. Bark lignin content ranges from 13 to 43% and is of HGS-type with species-specific composition and different in the bark components, phloem and cork. Lignin composition and macromolecular structure are key issues to understand the properties of lignocellulosic materials and to design a lignin-based pathway within biomass biorefineries. The available information on lignin composition is still limited to a few species and plant components. This is certainly an area where more research is needed.