U.S. government scientists say they are developing ways to use computerized tomography imaging to analyze various types of wood.

The U.S. Department of Energy researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory say their findings might lead to important applications in the pulp, paper and nascent bioenergy industries.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory researcher Justin Baba is working to develop analytical tools to determine parameters such as fiber length and arrangement, cell wall thickness and density from CT scans. Those scans could replace more destructive, chemical-dependant, methods of analyzing wood samples that currently compromise the information collection process.

For bioenergy, after some basic measurement standards are established, Baba says the scans will be able to show the cellulosic content of wood to help create a cellulose-based biofuel supply.

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Source: http://www.playfuls.com/news_003445_...lyze_Wood.html