lignins
Plant cell cement
Lignins are complex organic polymers that give rigidity to plant cell walls, making wood woody.
Along with cellulose, they're what allows trees to stand upright and resist decay.
The term appears mainly in botany, biochemistry, and papermaking, where removing lignin from wood pulp produces white paper: The kraft process breaks down lignins to extract cellulose fibers.
Rigid plant cell boundary
- xylemPlant water conduit
- vascularOf blood vessels
- woodTree-derived building material
- barkSharp canine vocalization
cambium · fibers · vessels · rigidity · strength · waterproofing · structural · support
Plant wall polysaccharide
- phenolicOf hydroxybenzene compounds
- polyphenolMulti-ringed plant antioxidant
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- macromoleculeVery large molecule
monomer · aromatic · crosslinking · biosynthesis · polymerization · oxidation · radical · peroxidase
Spore-reproducing decomposers
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- decayGradual organic breakdown
biodegradation · mineralization · humus · soil · recalcitrant · persistence · weathering · breakdown
Converting to soft mass
- kraftStrong unbleached paper
- paperPressed pulp for writing
- biorefineryBiomass conversion facility
- biofuelFuel from organic sources
ethanol · pretreatment · extraction · valorization · byproduct · sulfite · bleaching · biomass
Bonding substances
- bindersPaper-organizing ring holders
- resinsViscous plant-derived polymers
- compositesMaterials from merged components
- bioplasticsPlant-derived synthetic materials
dispersants · surfactants · antioxidants · coatings · films · hydrogels · nanoparticles · reinforcement
cell-wall
Rigid plant cell boundary
bark · cambium · fibers · vessels · rigidity · strength · waterproofing · structural · support · stems
cellulose
Plant wall polysaccharide
- phenolicOf hydroxybenzene compounds
- polyphenolMulti-ringed plant antioxidant
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
macromolecule · monomer · aromatic · crosslinking · biosynthesis · polymerization · oxidation · radical · peroxidase · precursor
fungi
Spore-reproducing decomposers
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
decay · biodegradation · mineralization · humus · soil · recalcitrant · persistence · weathering · breakdown · oxidative
pulping
Converting to soft mass
- kraftStrong unbleached paper
- paperPressed pulp for writing
- biorefineryBiomass conversion facility
biofuel · ethanol · pretreatment · extraction · valorization · byproduct · sulfite · bleaching · biomass · feedstock
adhesives
Bonding substances
- bindersPaper-organizing ring holders
- resinsViscous plant-derived polymers
- compositesMaterials from merged components
bioplastics · dispersants · surfactants · antioxidants · coatings · films · hydrogels · nanoparticles · reinforcement · filler
ligninscellulose
Plant wall polysaccharide
simple sugars · polysaccharides · pectin · starch · glucose
- lignite miningHarvesting soft, brownish coal