Characterization of 25 Tropical Hardwoods with Fourier Transform Infrared, Ultraviolet Resonance Raman, and 13C-NMR Cross-Polarization/Magic-Angle Spinning Spectroscopy

Twenty-five tropical hardwoods from Ghana were examined with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR), and 13C-NMR cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning spectroscopy. FTIR and UVRR spectral data were subjected to principal component analysis, whereas four selected samples exhibiting large structural and compositional variation were investigated in more detail by NMR spectroscopy. The acetyl bromide lignin and α-cellulose contents of the samples and the amount of acetone-soluble substances were also determined. The most prominent principal components of the FTIR spectral model separated samples mainly due to the variations in lignin structures and carbohydrate contents and the amount and type of carbonyl structures, whereas UVRR spectral data distinguished between various aromatic and other unsaturated structures. The presence of condensed lignin/tannin-type structures were detected from UVRR and FTIR loading line plots of the minor principal components. Condensed tannins were also observed in the dipolar dephasing NMR spectra. Furthermore, the NMR results showed variations in the amount of crystalline cellulose and hemicelluloses and in the syringyl/guaiacyl proportions in lignin. Both NMR and FTIR data suggest that in most cases, a higher amount of guaiacyl units correlated with higher levels of acetyl bromide lignin and better bioresistance of the samples. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 810–819, 2006