13C high-resolution solid-state NMR for structural elucidation of archaeological woods

A study was conducted to demonstrate the applications of high-resolution solid-state 13CNMR in the field of exploration of archaeological waterlogged wood samples. NMR was used in these applications as it allowed an investigation of molecular interactions between the residual wood components and the compounds used for wood conservation. The study also focused on providing information about wood structure and main features of waterlogged archaeological woods. Wood was considered as a complex natural composite material that contained three major components, such as cellulose, a poly-b(1 4)-D-glucopyranosyl linear polymer, and hemicelluloses. Cellulose represented the crystalline part of wood that were held together by the hemicelluloses and the lignin, while the main function of hemicelluloses and lignins was to buttress the fibrils.