FTIR imaging as a new tool for cell wall analysis of wood

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging offers the opportunity to analyse the chemical composition of wood spatially resolved. To illustrate the potential of FTIR imaging for wood analysis, the lignin distribution in cross sections of beech and poplar wood was analysed and the spatial resolution compared. Additionally, the ratio of guaiacyl/syringyl lignin in a poplar wood section was computed. The resolution of the FTIR microscope was sufficient to resolve individual cell walls of poplar wood fibres