Collaborative Study of Acid-Detergent Fiber and Lignin

Abstract

A second collaborative study on acid-detergent fiber and lignin has been completed involving 10 laboratories and 6 samples including timothy, alfalfa, soybean meal, barley straw, orchardgrass, and wheat straw. Results from 7 laboratories appeared normal according to the Youden collaborative test and yielded a mean duplicate error of 0.40±0.31, a standard error between laboratories of 0.40, and a coefficient of variation of 1.02%. The duplicate error for lignin was 0.23±0.31, the standard error between laboratories, 0.28, and the coefficient of variation, 4.26%. Results indicate problems with filtering, handling fritted glass crucibles in a uniform weighing procedure, and reliably preparing asbestos used in the preparation of lignin. Modifications of the previously published method include reduction of sample size to 1 g, elimination of the use of decalin, rigorous definition of filtration and weighing procedures, use of P2O5 or Mg(ClO4)2 as desiccant, and determination of a lignin blank. Problems in filtration can be overcome by not using more vacuum than is necessary, making all additions with vacuum off, and allowing 15–30 sec settling before applying suction. The modified acid-detergent fiber and lignin method has been adopted as official first action.