Complex biomaterials like wood and pulp can be characterised by its organic composition. We characterise the major polysaccharides (cellulose and hemicelluloses) and lignin as well as the wood extractives with respect to their constituents and/or functionalities. For instance, the composition of monosaccharides in pulp, amount of phenol groups in lignin and the amount of sterols, lignans and resin-and fatty acids in extracts.

 

Some other examples of organic compounds we frequently analyse are complexing agents, anthraquinone, aliphatic acids (acetic; formic; levulinic; terepthalic; oxalic acid), furfural, diisopropyl naphtalenes (DIPN), formaldehyde, phtalates, glycols (MEG; DEG; PEG), hexanal, ethylene oxide, dioxins, chlorophenols, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated naphtalenes.

 

Organic volatile compounds (VOCs) contribute to bad smell in paper and packages. We can determine the composition of VOCs and thus provide valuable information concerning the origin of the VOCs.