Impact of Natural Degradation on the Aged Lignocellulose Fibers of Moroccan Cedar Softwood: Structural Elucidation by Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD)

The aims of this study are to investigate the structure of four historical Moroccan cedar softwood samples of different aging time duration (16th, 17th, 19th, 21st centuries) and compare among these four samples, using two analytical methods, FTIR and XRD, in order to confirm some structural changes and determine the degree of deterioration. The pronounced hemicellulose deterioration was highlighted by a breakdown of IR acetyl groups at 1738 cm−1 from the 19th century sample until aged ones. The cellulose XRD crystallinity index showed an important decrease from recent to oldest samples (51.8 to 20.2%) justifying the damages mainly in the two oldest samples (17th and 16th centuries), also confirmed by FTIR. The alteration of lignin was manifested in the case of the two ancient samples (16th and 17th centuries), proven by the decrease in IR bands related to aromatic nuclei (1595, 1500, 1230 cm−1) evolving towards a new diconjugate C=O formers at 1647 cm−1 (quinone, Ar-CO-Ar, Ar-CO-C=C). For accurate elucidation, the data of two combined techniques were compared and correlated. The obtained results depended on the part of the wood exposed to weathering effects (internal or external) and were influenced by both extended time of aging and effects of natural deterioration agents. The effects of natural aging were investigated in four historical Moroccan cedar softwood samples (16th, 17th, 19th, 21st centuries) using two analytical tools: FTIR and XRD. The pronounced hemicellulose deterioration was highlighted by a breakdown of IR acetyl groups at 1738 cm−1 and declines in the absorption signal at 1268 cm−1 from the 19th century sample until aged ones. The cellulose XRD crystallinity index (CrI) estimation showed an important decrease from recent to oldest samples (51.8 to 20.2%) justifying the damages mainly in the two oldest samples (17th and 16th centuries). These data were also confirmed by FTIR showing a significant reduction in both area profiles of C-O-C (1150–1000 cm−1) and C-H crystalline cellulosic bands (1375, 1318, and 1268 cm−1), respectively. The lignin alteration in both old samples (16th and 17th centuries) was proven by the decrease in IR aromatic skeleton (1595, 1500, and 1230 cm−1) evolving towards a new diconjugate C=O formers at 1647 cm−1 (quinone, Ar-CO-Ar, Ar-CO-C=C). To determine the structural difference and the degree of deterioration, the IR area of C=O band intensities ranging from 1550 to 1800 cm−1 was exploited. For accurate elucidation, the data of two combined techniques were compared and correlated. The obtained results depended on the part of the wood (internal or external) exposed to weathering effects and were influenced by both extended time of aging and effects of natural deterioration agents.