13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopic analysis applied to wood characterization

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis were carried out on recent and archaeological wood. Cross-polarization-magic-angle spinning C-13 NMR spectra obtained from samples of poplar (Popolus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), and silver fir (Abies alba) were examined in this study. The most relevant peaks were assigned according to the extensive literature in the area, and the differences observed discussed in terms of lignin and cellulose composition: by fixing a lignin reference signal intensity, the cellulose and hemicellulose moieties showed a strong depletion compared to the lignin signals in archaeological wood.