Analyses of chemical composition of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) wood from healthy and damaged trees have been conducted. Infrared spectra of lignin isolated from the investigated wood have been recorded and analysed. Tree health was determined on the basis of ramification structure of the upper part of the crown according to the Roloff [1989] classification. Beech wood obtained from trees of the ages 80-145 years came from Pomerania and the Carpathians. Oak wood from trees of 84-147 years old came from the Podlasie and Wielkopolska region. The tested wood was cut from the butt-end parts of logs. The chemical composition of the wood, both beech and oak, obtained from trees differing in health levels was very similar. No influence of geographical provenance of beech and oak wood on its chemical composition was observed. The analysis of infrared spectra of lignin samples from oak wood relative to tree health and geographical provenance did not show significant differences. On the other hand, in the case of beech wood, some differentiation in IR spectra of lignin relative to tree health was observed.

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