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Studies of crystallinity of Scots pine and Norway spruce cellulose

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Abstract

The variation in the mass fraction of crystalline cellulose (crystallinity of wood), the intrinsic crystallinity of cellulose, and the thickness of cellulose crystallites in early wood of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.], and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) grown in Finland were studied using wide angle X-ray scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The mass fraction of crystalline cellulose in wood increased slightly with the distance from the pith and was about 30±4% in mature wood of both species. The crystallinity of cellulose and the thickness of cellulose crystallites were almost constant for both species. The crystallinity of cellulose was 52±3% for both species and the average thickness of the cellulose crystallites was 32±1 Å and 31±1 Å for Norway spruce and Scots pine, respectively. The mass fraction of cellulose in wood, calculated from the crystallinity values, increased with the distance from the pith for both species.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support of the Academy of Finland and Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation are gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Bo Hortling is thanked for the sulphate lignin sample and Dr. Kaija Jokela for assistance in data analysis. Mr. Tapio Järvinen is thanked for preparing the wood samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Seppo Andersson & Ritva Serimaa

  2. Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 55, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Hanne Wikberg & Sirkka Liisa Maunu

  3. Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 18, 01301, Vantaa, Finland

    Erkki Pesonen

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  1. Seppo Andersson
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  2. Hanne Wikberg
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  3. Erkki Pesonen
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  4. Sirkka Liisa Maunu
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Correspondence to Ritva Serimaa.

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Andersson, S., Wikberg, H., Pesonen, E. et al. Studies of crystallinity of Scots pine and Norway spruce cellulose. Trees 18, 346–353 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-003-0312-9

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