Gas chromatographic determination of lignin in sediment

After the oxidation of river and marine sediments with CuO under alkaline conditions, the phenolic compounds in the oxidation products are determined gas chromatographically and compared to that of lignin oxidation products.The method of CuO oxidation is compared to that of nitrobenzen.The quantitative determination of produced phenolic compounds by capillary gas chromatography is examined and the blank and repetibility of the method are tested.