1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Emim][CH(3)COO]) was used for the extraction of lignin from poplar wood (Populus albaglandulosa), which was called to ionic liquid lignin (ILL) and structural features of ILL were compared with the corresponding milled wood lignin (MWL). Yields of ILL and MWL were 5.8 +/- 0.3% and 4.4 +/- 0.4%, respectively. The maximum decomposition rate (V(M)) and temperature (T(M)) corresponding to V(M) were 0.25%/degrees C and 308.2 degrees C for ILL and 0.30%/degrees C and 381.3 degrees C for MWL The amounts of functional groups (OMe and phenolic OH) appeared to be similar for both lignins; approximately 15.5% and 6.7% for ILL and 14.4% and 6.3% for MWL. However, the weight average molecular weight (M(w)) of ILL (6347 Da) was determined to be 2/3-fold of that of MWL (10,002 Da) and polydispersity index (PDI: M(w)/M(n)) suggested that the lignin fragments were more uniform in the ILL (PDI 1.62) than in the MWL (PDI 2.64). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.