Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Wood and Pulp Fibers, Chapter 2

This chapter reviews applications of Raman spectroscopy in the field of wood and pulp fibers. Most of the literature examined was published between 1998 and 2006. In addi­ tion to introduction, this chapter contains sections on wood and components, mechanical pulp, chemical pulp, modified/treated wood, cellulose I crystallinity of wood fibers, and the “self-absorption” phenomenon in near-infrared (IR) Fourier-transform (FT)-Raman spectroscopy. When needed, the sections are further categorized into various subsections. For example, the section on wood and components contains a variety of topics ranging from Raman band assignments to molecular changes during tensile deformation. From this review it will become clear that Raman spectroscopy has become an essential analytical technique in the field of wood and pulp fibers.