Structural analysis of photodegraded wood by means of FTIR spectroscopy

We report on the detailed analysis of chemical modifications and structural changes in the cellulose and lignin of Populus tremula (a hardwood) and Buxus sempervirens (a softwood), as a result of photodegradation in a Xenon test chamber. The results obtained by means of FTIR spectroscopy indicate that lignin is the most sensitive component to the degradation process for both woods examined. On a structural level, the virtual elimination of the amorphous cellulose was observed for both types of wood. The crystallised cellulose I component, which accounts for the whole crystalline phase, undergoes minor structural changes, this effect being more important in the case of Populus tremula that was less degraded than Buxus Sempervirens. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.