Abstract

Five native species from Chile were studied. Lignins isolated from Nothofagus obliqua (roble blanco), Nothofagus glauca (roble colorado), Lithraea Caustica (litre), Quillaja saponaria (quillay) and Cryptocarya alba (peumo), classified as hardwood species, were subjected to chemical and spectroscopic analysis. A high extinction coefficient at 280 nm correlates with the high free phenolic group content of the lignins of these species. Nothofagus glauca exhibited a high methoxyl content (19.3%) and the lower phenolic content (1.38%). The chemiluminescent behaviour of these lignins was found to be directly proportional to phenolic groups content and inversely proportional to the methoxyl content.