Kenaf, containing unlabeled or14C-labeled lignin was oxidized by nitrobenzene. Reaction products were separated, the14C-content measured, and the products identified by mass spectroscopy (MS) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Principal products and their approximate percentage of “original-lignin-14C-content” were: syringaldehyde 20%, oxalic acid 20%, high-molecular-weight species 16%, vanillin 8.2%, benzoic acid and 4-hydroxy-azobenzene 10.7%, neutral species 3% or less, syringic acid 2.4%, vanillic acid 1.5%, and malic acid (trace). Numerous aromatic products at about the 1% concentration level remain unidentified.