Label‐Free, Real‐Time Monitoring of Biomass Processing with Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy

Label-free "chemical movies" of lignin and cellulose in fresh plant tissue were recorded during a step in the breakdown of biomass to produce biofuels by using stimulated Raman scattering microscopy. The technique allows the degradation of lignin in the cell wall to be monitored with high sensitivity, sub-micrometer spatial resolution, and high temporal resolution.