Author(s)

E. O. S. Saliba¹, D. Pilo-Veloso¹, N. M. Rodriguez¹, E. A. Capanema², J. S. Saliba¹, A. L. C. C. Borges¹, L. C. Gonçalves¹, I. Borges¹, D. G. Jayme¹, R. R. Silva¹

¹Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
²Wood and Paper Science Department, North Carolina State University (NCSU), Raleigh, USA.

The aim of this study was to investigate the structural composition of lignin (LIPE®) extracted from Eucalyptus grandis, before and after exposure to the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants. For this study lignin was isolated, purified and characterized using ¹H and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, nitrobenzene oxidation, functional groups analysis and gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy. To have a better understanding of lignin morphology and of its ultra structure, electron microscopy in wood cell wall was utilized. The lignin fecal samples showed similar ¹H NMR spectrums and nitrobenzene oxidation products compared with LIPE®. The result of the microanalysis of LIPE® was similar to data shown in the literature. The ultra structure of lignin was similar to that of Bamboo (hard wood). The lignin isolated from feces of sheep was identical to the original LIPE®, which means that this product can be used as an external marker in protein digestibility in sheep.

Lignin, Eucalyptus grandis, Ruminant

Saliba, E. , Pilo-Veloso, D. , Rodriguez, N. , Capanema, E. , Saliba, J. , Borges, A. , Gonçalves, L. , Borges, I. , Jayme, D. and Silva, R. (2016) Characterization of Lignin before and after Exposure to the Gastrointestinal Tract of Ruminants. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 7, 748-753. doi: 10.4236/ajac.2016.711067.