Investigating the lignocellulosic composition during delignification using confocal raman spectroscopy, cross-polarization magic angle spinning carbon 13 - nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS 13C- NMR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy

Abstract

The changes in lignocellulosic composition of four hardwoods, i.e. Eucalyptus grandis camaldulensis (E. gc), E. grandis urophylla (E. gu), E. dunnii and E. nitens during different delignification processes were investigated using confocal Raman spectroscopy, Cross-Polarization Magic Angle Spinning Carbon 13 - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CP/MAS 13C-NMR) spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in conjunction with image analysis. The confocal Raman results showed that there were differences in the distribution of lignin between the middle lamella and secondary cell wall layer for all clones and species investigated. The E. gc clone showed high levels of lignin in the secondary cell wall layer compared to the E. gu clone, E. dunnii and E. nitens species. The CP/MAS 13C-NMR spectroscopy results revealed an increase in cellulose crystallinity during chlorite delignification, acid bisulphite pulping and subsequent oxygen delignification. This increase was accompanied by an increase in cellulose "aggregate" area with a corresponding decrease in "matrix" area for each of the clones and species.