抽提预处理沙柳的热解失重特性、动力学及产物组分

为了控制和改善沙柳原料热解产物品质,对比了热水、1%Na OH和苯-乙醇(苯醇)抽提3种预处理方法,利用热重红外分析法(TG-FT-IR)和热解气质联用(Py-GC/MS)研究了预处理对沙柳热解失重特性及产物生成规律的影响。结果表明:热水和苯醇抽提预处理降低了残炭率,促进了挥发性产物的生成,而1%Na OH抽提预处理增加了残炭率;Coats-Redfern动力学分析发现,抽提预处理沙柳低温段与一级动力学拟合较好,高温段与二级动力学拟合较好,抽提预处理降低了沙柳热解活化能,有利于沙柳热解反应的进行;经过1%Na OH抽提预处理沙柳生成了较多的酚和酮类组分,经过热水抽提预处理沙柳的醛类、酚类、酸类等物质GC含量减少而酯类、醚类GC含量增加,苯醇抽提预处理沙柳各组分GC含量变化不大。     

预处理对ACQ在杨木中的吸附与固着的影响

采用了6种方法对杨木进行预处理,探究不同预处理方法对ACQ在杨木中吸附性能的影响。结果表明,经乙醇抽提、NaOH处理和酶处理后的杨木,ACQ吸液率分别增加16.23%、8.55%和10.09%,加热防腐剂、木材热处理和微波预处理对ACQ吸附量影响较小;热处理和乙醇抽提预处理杨木的铜抗流失性能优于其他预处理方法和未处理材。     

预处理方式对黑胡桃木干缩湿胀特性的影响

对黑胡桃木进行了微观构造观察、抽提物含量测定,并测重分析了5种预处理方式对黑胡桃木干缩湿胀性能的影响。结果表明:不同抽提处理抽提物含量不同,抽提物含量从大到小依次为NaOH、热水、冷水、苯醇;在RH65%→RH33%过程中,干缩率数值从大到小依次为未处理、汽蒸处理、NaOH处理、苯醇处理、冷水处理、热水处理;在RH65%→RH86%过程中,湿胀率数值从大到小依次为未处理、NaOH处理、苯醇处理、冷水处理、热水处理、汽蒸处理,其干缩湿胀特性数值大小与抽提效果基本相一致;分析认为预处理影响黑胡桃木中抽提物含量、木材中的亲水基团以及纹孔膜的上微孔孔径等,进而直接影响黑胡桃干缩湿胀性质;热水预处理可显著降低黑胡桃木干缩湿胀,是一种较好预处理方式。     

抽提处理对尾巨按木材干缩性的影响

为了抑制桉木干缩,采用全因子试验方法研究抽提工艺对尾巨桉木材干缩性的影响.试验结果表明:碱抽提对尾巨桉木材线性干缩率(径向、弦向)、体积干缩率的影响规律不一,但第6、8,9组方案的碱抽提试样的差异干缩率趋近于1;冷水抽提对尾巨桉木材线性干缩率(径向、弦向)、体积干缩率的影响规律比热水抽提明显,热水抽提材的差异干缩波动幅度比冷水抽提材大,效果较好的工艺组合也明显少;第3,4、7、8、11、12组方案的冷水抽提试样的差异干缩趋近于1,而仅第12组方案的热水抽提试样的差异干缩趋近于1.因此,碱抽提和水抽提可以降低尾巨桉木材干缩性的各向异性.     

NaOH预处理对杨木活性染料染色效果的影响

以杨木为研究对象,采用单一因素法研究了浴比、预处理温度、预处理时间及NaOH溶液浓度4个预处理工艺参数对活性染料在预处理后杨木中染色效果的影响规律,并且用SEM表征了预处理前后的微观结构。结果表明:NaOH可以溶解杨木导管中大量的抽提物,大幅度地改善木材的纹孔结构;随着浴比、预处理温度、预处理时间、NaOH溶液浓度的增大,活性染料在杨木中的上染率和固色率均呈现先升后降的规律;当杨木经过浴比为1:40,预处理温度为80℃,预处理时间为8 h,NaOH溶液浓度为2 g/L的预处理工艺处理后,杨木对其的上染率(简称E)和固色率(简称F)均达到最大值,E为60.43%,F为59.36%,与活性染料上染未经过NaOH预处理的木材时的E为34.58%,F为31.47%相比,E最大可提高74.75%,F最大可提高88.62%。     

几种木材处理方式对云南松人工林的云南松材剖面密度影响的研究

采用热压、水煮和汽蒸对云南松人工林的云南松材进行了处理,对经处理的云南松材剖面密度进行了测定。结果表明,3种处理方式对其云南松材的剖面密度都有影响。其中水煮处理的影响最大;而3种处理方式对云南松材不同部位的剖面密度的影响也不同,以对端部的影响为最大。     

思茅松3种密实化改性材物理性质比较

密实化是提升低密度人工林材品质、拓展其用途的重要途径之一。以思茅松为研究对象,在考察水抽提处理对其可浸渍性影响的基础上,分析比较了糠醇化、机械压缩以及两者联合等3种密实化改性方式对其剖面密度、吸湿性、24 h吸水性和吸水厚度膨胀率的影响。结果表明:1)水抽提处理有助于提高思茅松材的可浸渍性,质量增加率可以提高11.35%,而且剖面密度分布存在显著差异;2)浸渍可均匀提高木材厚度上的密度,机械压缩促使思茅松材形成了内高外低的密度分布,联合改性材剖面密度的分布特征类似于压缩密实化材,但内外层间的过渡更为平缓;3)糠醇浸渍可以显著降低木材的吸水性和吸湿性,机械压缩对木材吸湿性的影响不明显,但其吸水率稍高,因糠醇树脂的原因,联合改性材的吸湿吸水性均显著下降;4)糠醇浸渍可以显著降低木材的吸水厚度膨胀率,对压缩密实化材具有较好的定型作用,联合改性材的24 h吸水厚度膨胀率为3.3%,接近于对照材的4.1%,而压缩材为24.7%,糠醇浸渍材只有0.4%。同时,水溶液的酸碱性对木材的吸水行为也有影响。综上,糠醇化与压缩密实化的联合改性非常有潜力用于速生低密度松木材的增值加工,而热水抽提处理可以作为提高松木糠醇浸渍的预处理手段。     

阻燃处理米槠热分解的热动力学分析

将硼酸、硼砂混和制成均匀的阻燃剂,并以脲醛预缩液为载体,用于处理试材,并采用TG和DTA方法来分析经处理与未经处理的米槠热解时的热动力学特性,结果表明该阻燃体系能使米槠的热解温度降低,平均热解失重率降低、失重过程变缓,产炭量增加、在炭化阶段的失重变小。     

柚木石油醚抽提物成分及其对心边材颜色的影响

为探究国产柚木抽提物对心材和边材颜色差异的影响,采用3种沸程的石油醚溶液分别对国产柚木的心材与边材进行抽提处理,利用气相色谱-质谱法分析抽提液的成分和含量,并以差异较大的抽提物溶液处理柚木边材,通过色度学参数表征柚木边材的变色情况,从而验证影响柚木心材和边材颜色的主要抽提物成分。结果表明:在3种沸程的石油醚抽提液中,柚木心材抽提物在成分种类数量和含量上均显著高于边材;不同沸程的石油醚对柚木心、边材中抽提物成分有一定的影响,其中30~60℃(低沸程)和60~90℃(中沸程)石油醚抽提物成分和含量的差异较小,而90~120℃(高沸程)石油醚抽提物的含量较高,约为中、低沸程抽提物含量的2倍;柚木心材抽提液中酚类、醌类、烯烃类物质的含量较多,但这些物质在边材中含量极低;4-叔丁基-2-苯基苯酚、2-甲基蒽醌(柚木醌)、全反式三十碳六烯(角鲨烯)是柚木心、边材抽提物含量差异最明显的物质。经角鲨烯溶液处理后的柚木边材表面颜色变黄,更接近心材颜色,因此,角鲨烯是导致柚木心边材颜色差异的重要抽提物成分。     

沙柳材刨花/水泥相适性的研究

研究沙柳材预处理与未经处理刨花与水泥混合时的水化特性,以及添加助凝剂后上述2种情况的水化特性.结果表明:沙柳材对水泥具有强烈的阻凝作用.经冷、热水抽提处理后的刨花,再添加一定量的助凝剂,可用于水泥刨花板的生产.     

Tangential and radial shrinkage variation within trees in sugi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>) cultivars

The transverse shrinkage variation within trees was examined for five sugi cultivars. The within-tree trends of tangential shrinkage (α _T) were different by cultivar, whereas radial shrinkage (α _R) increased from pith to bark in most cultivars. The tangential/radial shrinkage ratio (α _T/α _R) decreased from pith to bark in most cultivars, because the radial variation of α _R was larger than that of α _T. The cultivars showed significant differences among cultivars in α _T, α _R, and α _T/α _R, but the difference among cultivars for α _T/α _R was smaller. The relationships between transverse shrinkage and microfi bril angle (MFA), basic density (BD), tree ring parameters, and modulus of elasticity were examined. The α _T and α _R showed positive relationships with BD, latewood percentage, latewood density, and modulus of elasticity, and negative relationships with MFA and ring width. The relationships with earlywood density were weak. Sugi exhibited variation in transverse shrinkage within stem and among cultivars, with the variation affected by MFA, density, and tree ring parameters. Part of this article was presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Akita, Japan, August 2006, and the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Hiroshima, Japan, August 2007     

The pharmacokinetical study of plant alkaloid tetrandrine with a simple HPLC method in rabbits

A simple HPLC method was developed to quantify rabbit plasma tetrandrine (Tet) with propranolol (Pro) as internal standard. Based on the established method Tet and Pro were eluted at 7.1 and 12.0 min, respectively. It was shown that the concentration-time data of Tet fit the classical two-compartment model, no matter the drug was administered intravenously or orally to rabbits. The values of AUC_0 → ∞, clearance (Cl_0 → ∞), volume of distribution (Vd), and elimination half-life (t_1/2β) of Tet were 59861.149 ± 26962.196 μg/L ? min, 0.503 ± 0.173 L/min/kg, 179 ± 76.185 L/kg, and 283.808 ± 162.937 min for intravenous injection of 5 mg/kg, or 18986.217 ± 7462.308 μg/L ? min, 0.805 ± 0.267 L/min/kg, 110.284 ± 94.176 L/kg, and 732.919 ± 847.32 min for gavage administration of 10 mg/kg , respectively. The results indicate that Tet displays a limited absorption in intestinal tract, even though it has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile after oral or intravenous administration.     

Aboveground biomass and nitrogen in four short-rotation woody crop species growing with different water and nutrient availabilities

We quantified the effect of water and nutrient availability on aboveground biomass and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in four species from the southeastern United States, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). The 6-year-old stands received five levels of resource input (control, irrigation with 3.05 cm water week⁻¹, irrigation + 57 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, irrigation + 85 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and irrigation + 114 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Irrigation significantly increased foliage, stem, and branch biomass for sweetgum and sycamore, culminating in 103% and 238% increases in total aboveground biomass. Fertilization significantly increased aboveground components for all species resulting in 49, 58, 281, and 132% increases in total aboveground biomass for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Standing total aboveground biomass of the fertilized treatments reached 79, 59, 48, and 54 Mg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased foliar nitrogen concentration for loblolly pine, sweetgum, and sycamore foliage. Irrigation increased total stand nitrogen content by 6, 14, 93, and 161% for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Fertilization increased total nitrogen content by 62, 53, 172, and 69% with maximum nitrogen contents of 267, 212, 237, and 203 kg ha⁻¹ for loblolly pine, slash pine, sweetgum, and sycamore, respectively. Growth efficiency (stem growth per unit of leaf biomass) and nitrogen use efficiency (stem growth per unit of foliar nitrogen content) increased for the sycamore and sweetgum, but not the loblolly or slash pine.     

Tephrosia species and provenances for improved fallows in southern Africa

Seeking an alternative to Sesbania spp. tree fallows, a Tephrosia species and provenance trial was conducted at Msekera Research Station, Chipata (Zambia) to evaluate eleven Tephrosia vogelii and three Tephrosia candida provenances. They were tested for biomass production, quality of biomass, resistance to root-knot nematodes, nitrogen release, and for their effects on soil nitrogen dynamics. At the end of 1.5 years, the T. candida provenances 02970, 02971 and 02972 from Madagascar produced two times greater amount of aboveground biomass than the T. vogelii provenances. There was little variability among the T. vogelii provenances in terms of litter and biomass production. Weed growth was significantly greater under T. vogelii than T. candida provenances. While Tephrosia vogelii provenance 98/02 from Zambia and T. candida 02972 were highly tolerant to the Meloidogyne incognita nematodes, T. vogelii provenances 02977, 98/03, 02973 from Kenya, Zambia and Malawi, respectively, were highly susceptible to the nematodes. The Tephrosia species and provenances showed a wide variability in terms of N, lignin and polyphenol concentration in their foliage. Mineralization of N in the foliage of T. candida provenances 02970 and 02971 and T. vogelii provenances 98/04 and 02974 from Malawi occurred rapidly within 14 weeks of incubation. At the end of the 2-year growth period, there was significantly greater total inorganic N under T. candida provenance 02972 (12.5 mg kg⁻¹) than T. vogelii (5 mg kg⁻¹) provenance Mungwi 98/02. Maize (Zea mays L.) yields after T. candida provenances were greater than those after T. vogelii provenances. Further testing of the most promising provenances is needed for their effects on subsequent maize yields under a range of farm conditions. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influences of forest tending works on carbon distribution and cycling in a Pinus densiflora S. et Z. stand in Korea

This study was conducted to determine carbon (C) dynamics following forest tending works (FTW) which are one of the most important forest management activities conducted by Korean forest police and managers. We measured organic C storage (above- and below-ground biomass C, forest floor C, and soil C at 50 cm depth), soil environmental factors (soil CO₂ efflux, soil temperature, soil water content, soil pH, and soil organic C concentration), and organic C input and output (litterfall and litter decomposition rates) for one year in FTW and non-FTW (control) stands of approximately 40-year-old red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) forests in the Hwangmaesan Soopkakkugi model forest in Sancheonggun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. This forest was thinned in 2005 as a representative FTW practice. The total C stored in tree biomass was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the FTW stand (40.17 Mg C ha⁻¹) than in the control stand (64.52 Mg C ha⁻¹). However, C storage of forest floor and soil layers measured at four different depths was not changed by FTW, except for that at the surface soil depth (0–10 cm). The organic C input due to litterfall and output due to needle litter decomposition were both significantly lower in the FTW stand than in the control stand (2.02 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ vs. 2.80 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 308 g C kg⁻¹ year⁻¹ vs. 364 g C kg⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively, both P < 0.05). Soil environmental factors were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by FTW, except for soil CO₂ efflux rates and organic C concentration at soil depth of 0–20 cm. The mean annual soil CO₂ efflux rates were the same in the FTW (0.24 g CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) and control (0.24 g CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) stands despite monthly variations of soil CO₂ efflux over the one-year study period. The mean soil organic C concentration at a soil depth of 0–20 cm was lower in the FTW stand (81.3 g kg⁻¹) than in the control stand (86.4 g kg⁻¹) but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). In contrast, the mean soil temperature was significantly higher, the mean soil water content was significantly lower, and the soil pH was significantly higher in the FTW stand than in the control stand (10.34 °C vs. 8.98 °C, 48.2% vs. 56.4%, and pH 4.83 vs. pH 4.60, respectively, all P < 0.05). These results indicated that FTW can influence tree biomass C dynamics, organic C input and output, and soil environmental factors such as soil temperature, soil water content and soil pH, while soil C dynamics such as soil CO₂ efflux rates and soil organic C concentration were little affected by FTW in a red pine stand.     

Carbon dioxide exchange of a larch forest after a typhoon disturbance

A typhoon event catastrophically destroyed a 45-year-old Japanese larch plantation in southern Hokkaido, northern Japan in September 2004, and about 90% of trees were blown down. Vegetation was measured to investigate its regeneration process and CO₂ flux, or net ecosystem production (NEP), was measured in 2006–2008 using an automated chamber system to investigate the effects of typhoon disturbance on the ecosystem carbon balance. Annual maximum aboveground biomass (AGB) increased from 2.7 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2006 to 4.0 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2007, whereas no change occurred in annual maximum leaf area index (LAI), which was 3.7 m² m⁻² in 2006 and 3.9 m² m⁻² in 2007. Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) had become dominant within 2 years after the typhoon disturbance, and came to account for about 60% and 50% of AGB and LAI, respectively. In comparison with CO₂ fluxes measured by the eddy covariance technique in 2001–2003, for 4.5 months during the growing season, the sum of gross primary production (GPP) decreased on average by 739 gC m⁻² (64%) after the disturbance, whereas ecosystem respiration (RE) decreased by 501 gC m⁻² (51%). As a result, NEP decreased from 159 ± 57 gC m⁻² to −80 ± 30 gC m⁻², which shows that the ecosystem shifted from a carbon sink to a source. Seasonal variation in RE was strongly correlated to soil temperature. The interannual variation in the seasonal trend of RE was small. Light-saturated GPP (P_max) decreased from 30–45 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ to 8–12 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ during the summer season through the disturbance because of large reduction in LAI.     

Dry matter partitions and specific leaf weight of soybean change with tree competition in an intercropping system

In 2004 and 2005, the yield, leaf area, dry weight and dry weight partitions of soybeans were determined at the Agroforestry Research Site (ARS) (est. 1987, Ontario, Canada). Soybean was intercropped with poplar (Populus deltoides x nigra DN-177 L., 556 m³crown tree⁻¹), silver maple (Acer saccharinum L., 308 m³), black walnut (Juglans nigra L., 148 m³) and pecan (Carya illinoensis Wangenh., 114 m³), or grown alone (monoculture). Yield of soybean was not different in either year between the monoculture and the black walnut or pecan intercrops. In the poplar and silver maple treatments, yield was 66 and 85% (2004 and 2005) lower than in the monoculture. Despite the fact that different tree species were used, there was a significant negative linear regression between yield and tree crown volume (R ² = 0.76, P = 0.0049 and R ² = 0.93, P < 0.0001 in 2004 and 2005, respectively). With increasing tree crown volume, soybean tended to partition more dry matter to the photosynthetic and reproductive parts and less to structural tissue and petiole. This demonstrates the phenotypic flexibility of the crop component in agroforestry systems. Contrary to theoretical predictions, soybean leaves were thicker as shade increased (increase by 6.2 × 10⁻⁴–1.2 × 10⁻³ mg cm⁻², per unit of crown volume), pointing to competitive interactions specific to tree-based intercrops.     

Post-fire soil respiration in relation to burnt wood management in a Mediterranean mountain ecosystem

After a wildfire, the management of burnt wood may determine microclimatic conditions and microbiological activity with the potential to affect soil respiration. To experimentally analyze the effect on soil respiration, we manipulated a recently burned pine forest in a Mediterranean mountain (Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park, SE Spain). Three representative treatments of post-fire burnt wood management were established at two elevations: (1) “salvage logging” (SL), where all trees were cut, trunks removed, and branches chipped; (2) “non-intervention” (NI), leaving all burnt trees standing; and (3) “cut plus lopping” (CL), a treatment where burnt trees were felled, with the main branches lopped off, but left in situ partially covering the ground surface. Seasonal measurements were carried out over the course of two years. In addition, we performed continuous diurnal campaigns and an irrigation experiment to ascertain the roles of soil temperature and moisture in determining CO₂ fluxes across treatments. Soil CO₂ fluxes were highest in CL (average of 3.34 ± 0.19 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and the lowest in SL (2.21 ± 0.11 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Across seasons, basal values were registered during summer (average of 1.46 ± 0.04 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), but increased during the humid seasons (up to 10.07 ± 1.08 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in spring in CL). Seasonal and treatment patterns were consistent at the two elevations (1477 and 2317 m a.s.l.), although respiration was half as high at the higher altitude.Respiration was mainly controlled by soil moisture. Watering during the summer drought boosted CO₂ effluxes (up to 37 ± 6 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ just after water addition), which then decreased to basal values as the soil dried. About 64% of CO₂ emissions during the first 24 h could be attributed to the degasification of soil pores, with the rest likely related to biological processes. The patterns of CO₂ effluxes under experimental watering were similar to the seasonal tendencies, with the highest pulse in CL. Temperature, however, had a weak effect on soil respiration, with Q₁₀ values of ca. 1 across seasons and soil moisture conditions. These results represent a first step towards illustrating the effects of post-fire burnt wood management on soil respiration, and eventually carbon sequestration.     

Effects of seed water content and storage temperature on the germination parameters of white spruce, black spruce and lodgepole pine seed

The effect of seed water content (WC) (2–3, 5–6 and 22–25%, on a fresh weight basis), storage temperature (+4, −20, −80 and −196°C) and storage duration (6, 12, 24, 48 and 60 months) on the germination of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) seed was investigated. Germination of white spruce control (untreated) seeds and seeds adjusted to 2–3% and 5–6% WC declined after 48 months of storage at −80 and −196°C, with a further decline at 60 months at −20, −80, −196°C. Germination remained high when control white spruce seeds and seeds with 2–3, 5–6% WC were stored at +4°C, over all storage durations. Generally, black spruce and lodgepole pine exhibited high germination at all storage temperatures at 2–3% and 5–6% WC as well as the control (untreated) seed, for up to 60 months in storage. Germination declined for all three species when seed was conditioned to 22–25% WC. This loss in germination was partially recovered in white spruce seed stored at +4, −20 and −80°C after storage durations of 24, 12 and 48 months, respectively, and in black spruce seeds stored at −20 and −196°C after storage durations of 24 months. Mean germination time (MGT) was relatively constant for all species, under all conditions, except for seed conditioned to 22–25% WC, where MGT increased for white spruce seed stored 48 months at −80 and −196°C, and for black spruce seed stored 24 months at +4 and −80°C and 60 months at −196°C. These results show that the optimal storage temperatures are 4°C for white spruce, and 4, −20, −80, and −196°C for black spruce and lodgepole pine, and 2–6% water content is optimal for all 3 species at these temperatures.     

Reaction behavior of lignin in supercritical methanol as studied with lignin model compounds

 The reaction behavior and kinetics of lignin model compounds were studied in supercritical methanol with a batch-type supercritical biomass conversion system. Guaiacol, veratrole, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, and 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene were used as model compounds for aromatic rings in lignin. In addition, 5-5, β-1, β-O-4, and α-O-4 types of dimeric lignin model compounds were used as representatives of linkages in lignin. As a result, aromatic rings and 5-5 (biphenyl)-type structures were stable in supercritical methanol, and the β-1 linkage was not cleaved in the β-1-type structure but converted rapidly to stilbene. On the other hand, β-ether and α-ether linkages of β-O-4 and α-O-4 lignin model compounds were cleaved rapidly, and these compounds decomposed to some monomeric compounds. Phenolic compounds were found to be more reactive than nonphenolic compounds. These results indicate that cleavages of ether linkages mainly contribute to the depolymerization of lignin, whereas condensed linkages such as the 5-5 and β-1 types are not cleaved in supercritical methanol. Therefore, it is suggested that the supercritical methanol treatment effectively depolymerizes lignin into the lower-molecular-weight products as a methanol-soluble portion mainly by cleavage of the β-ether structure, which is the dominant linkage in lignin. Received: December 19, 2001 / Accepted: April 30, 2002 Acknowledgments This research has been done under the research program for the development of technologies for establishing an ecosystem based on recycling in rural villages for the twenty-first century from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan; by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2) (no.12460144, 2001.4–2003.3) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan; and under the research program from Kansai Research Foundation for Technology Promotion, Japan. The authors thank them for their financial support. This study was presented in part at the 45th Lignin Symposium, Ehime, Japan, October 2000 and the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, Japan, April 2002 Correspondence to:S. Saka