Cellulose is an insoluble substance which is the main constituent of cell walls and of vegetable fibres. Chemically it is a polysaccharide consisting of chains of glucose monomers. Lignin on the other hand side is an organic substance binding the cells fibres and vessels which constitute wood. Lignin is an adaptation to terrestrial habit. Cellulose and lignin are the most abundant renewable carbon sources on Earth. Lignin is highly resistant to decomposition.

Cellulose is an insoluble substance which is the main constituent of cell walls and of vegetable fibres. Chemically it is a polysaccharide consisting of chains of glucose monomers. Lignin on the other hand side is an organic substance binding the cells fibres and vessels which constitute wood. Lignin is an adaptation to terrestrial habit. Cellulose and lignin are the most abundant renewable carbon sources on Earth. Lignin is highly resistant to decomposition.

Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate that forms the major part of the cell wall in most plants and is important in the manufacture of numerous products, such as paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and explosives while lignin is (organic compound) a complex non-carbohydrate aromatic polymer present in all wood.

Cellulose is the most abundant polysaccharide in the universe while lignin is most abundant chemical in the cellwall

Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide build up from anhydroglucose units which are connected with each other by 1-4-β- glucosidic linkages and posses an orderly structure. Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide build up from anhydroglucose units which are connected with each other by 1-4-β- glucosidic linkages and posses an orderly structure. It is the principle structural component of tissues and cells. Cellulose molecules form the fibrous part of the plant cell wall. The tough fibers are mechanically strong and resistant to many chemical agents. We take the advantage of its mechanical strength when we use wood as a building material.

Lignin is a polymer found in the cell walls of all woody plants and is one of the most abundant natural polymers. Lignin constitutes one-fourth to one-third of total dry weight of trees .Lignin acts as cementing agent to bind the matrix of cellulose fibers together into a rigid woody structure.

Lignin is an organic polymeric material composed of substituted phenyl propane units. There are probably many lignins, the properties and composition of each depends on the source of lignin and the processing it is subjected to. The term lignin refers to a mixture of substances that have similar compositions but may have structural differences.

Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate that forms the main constituent of the cell wall in most plants and is important in the manufacture of numerous products, such as paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and explosives while lignin is (organic compound) a complex non-carbohydrate aromatic polymer present in all wood. 

If your interest is in the characteristics of their pyrolysis i strongly suggest this:

Haiping Yang, Rong Yan, Hanping Chen, Dong Ho Lee, Chuguang Zheng, Characteristics of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin pyrolysis, Fuel, 86:12-13, p.1781-1788, 2007

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001623610600490X

For me the main difference between both (cellulose& lignin) resides in their molecular composition and configuration. Cellulose is a polymer of glucose units attached to each other by β 1-4 glucosidic linkages in a linear configuration. On the other hand, lignin is a polymer of monolignols (e.g., guaiacyl, p-hydroxyphenyl & siringyl) organized in a much more complex way.

cellulose is the one type of polysaccharide. it is most used in cell wall formation. while lignin is polymer of monolignols. it is very hard in plant cell wall. 

Cellulose is a high MW linear polymer of condensed B linked D glucose unit. Lignin is a complex amorphous polyphenol polymer that links up fibres and other cell materials. 

Dear all

Rassel Kabir , Ostilio Portillo , Dileep Kumar Banisetti , Archana Chaudhari

There are various functional groups in the structure of lignin including methoxyl, phenolic hydroxyl, aliphatic hydroxyl. Do these groups also exist in the structure of cellulose ?