Abstract
We report on the detailed analysis of chemical modifications and structural changes in the cellulose and lignin of Populus tremula
(a hardwood) and Buxus sempervirens (a softwood), as a result of photodegradation in a Xenon test chamber. The results obtained
by means of FTIR spectroscopy indicate that lignin is the most sensitive component to the degradation process for both woods
examined. On a structural level, the virtual elimination of the amorphous cellulose was observed for both types of wood. The
crystallised cellulose I component, which accounts for the whole crystalline phase, undergoes minor structural changes, this effect
being more important in the case of Populus tremula that was less degraded than Buxus Sempervirens.
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