A value obtained by a laboratory test procedure for indirectly indicating the lignin content, relative hardness, or bleachability of higher lignin content pulps, usually with yields of 70 per cent or more.  It is determined by the number of milliliters of tenth normal permanganate solution (0.1 KMn04) which is absorbed by 1 gram of oven dry pulp under specific conditions, and is then corrected to 50 percent consumption of permanganate.