Application of confocal Raman spectroscopy for the topochemical distribution of lignin and cellulose in plant cell walls of beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) compared to UV microspectrophotometry

Abstract

Abstract In a comparative study, the topochemical distribution of lignin in individual cell wall layers of beech wood tissue was determined by confocal Raman spectroscopy and scanning UV microspectrophotometry. The Raman technique was additionally applied to the determination of cellulose content in individual wall layers. In good agreement, the two methods showed maxima of lignin distribution in middle lamellae and cell corners, along with a minimum of cellulose content.