How can you identify wood from FTIR?
This page summarizes the recurring FTIR evidence reported for wood, including the most frequent peaks, supporting functional groups, and literature-backed interpretation patterns. It is a structured evidence page, not a claim of automatic single-spectrum certainty.
Backed by 26 cited sources
Quick answer
wood is usually reported with a recurring pattern of peaks and functional-group evidence. The most useful approach is to cross-check at least two characteristic peaks before treating it as a match, then verify whether the full spectrum still fits the same material family.
Peak interpretation
Possible materials / groups
| Functional group | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrate | 35 |
| Methacrylate | 26 |
| Acetate | 26 |
| Alkyl C-H | 21 |
| Lignin | 21 |
| C-O single bond | 20 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 20 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 12 |
Spectrum logic
The logic here is evidence aggregation: repeated literature mentions of wood, repeated peak positions, and repeated functional-group associations. A strong material hypothesis should still be supported by multiple peaks that agree with each other, not by one headline band alone.
Real-world usage
This page is designed for polymer identification, incoming-material QC, unknown plastic analysis, recycled-content review, and literature-backed interpretation of reference spectra.
Common mistakes
- Calling a material match too early because one famous peak is present.
- Ignoring sample prep, fillers, oxidation, water, or additives that can change the apparent pattern.
- Using literature evidence without checking whether your own sampling mode and spectrum quality are comparable.
Verification advice
Use DSC, GC-MS, or TGA to validate the material hypothesis when the peak pattern is ambiguous or mixed.
Literature behind this page
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confidence 0.9
wood
FTIR studies of the changes in wood chemistry following decay by brown-rot and white-rot fungi DOI: 10.1016/S0964-8305(03)00052-0 -
confidence 0.9
wood
Aging of Wood for Musical Instruments: Analysis of Changes in Color, Surface Morphology, Chemical, and Physical-Acoustical Properties during UV and Thermal Exposure DOI: 10.3390/polym15071794 -
confidence 0.9
wood
Aiding the cleaning of four 19th-century Tsimshian house posts: investigation of museum-applied surface coatings and original polychromy DOI: 10.1186/s40494-021-00513-4 -
confidence 0.9
wood
Cellulose Nano Crystals (CNC) as Additive for a Bio-Based Waterborne Acrylic Wood Coating: Decay, Artificial Weathering, Physical and Chemical Tests DOI: 10.3390/nano13030442 -
confidence 0.8
wood
The Influence of a Thermal Treatment on the Decay Resistance of Wood via FTIR Analysis DOI: 10.1155/2018/8461407 -
confidence 0.8
wood
Molecular-Level Characterization of Changes in the Mechanical Properties of Wood in Response to Thermal Treatment DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-882939/v1 -
confidence 0.8
wood
Nondestructive wood discrimination: FTIR – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in the characterization of different wood species used for artistic objects DOI: 10.1142/S201019451660212X -
confidence 0.8
wood
The Influence of Fly Ash on the Mechanical Properties of Water Immersed All Waste Composites DOI: 10.3390/polym14101957 -
confidence 0.8
wood
Evaluation of an alternative biotreatment for the extraction of harmful iron and sulfur species from waterlogged wood DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01908-9 -
confidence 0.8
wood
Rana 等 - 2010 - FTIR spectroscopy, chemical and histochemical char DOI: 10.1007/s00226-009-0281-2)
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