Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis of some Japanese Papers

Some commercially-available Japanese papers were analysed by FTIR and their spectra were compared with those of both pure cellulose paper and standard, hand-made Japanese sheets. The deconvolution of FTIR spectra enabled us to recognise hemicellulose, chemical pulps and inorganic fillers, as well as low amounts of lignin. Among the IR bands that do not appear in the cellulose spectrum, those at 1600 and 1660 (hemicellulose), 1510 (lignin), 810 (wood pulps) and 1790 cm(-1) (inorganic carbonates) are the most significant for analytical purposes.