Rapid prediction of teak wood natural durability using near-infrared spectroscopy

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is widely used to identify compounds and to assess wood properties based on information drawn from reference methods. Unlike most conventional analytical methods, NIRS is a non-destructive method, requires little or no sample preparation or chemicals and does not produce any chemical waste, requiring disposal. The ability of NIRS to predict teak natural durability using solid wood spectra was assessed on a total of 250 wood samples collected from approximately 80 African (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo) and 30 Malaysian trees. Natural durability tests on heartwood were performed in controlled conditions using the fungi Antrodia sp. and Coniophora puteana with beech (Fagus sativa) and pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) as references. The relative resistance to decay (x -value) expressed as mass loss after four months of biodegradation by the two fungal strains was calculated and durability classes were estimated according to European standard EN 350-1. It was found that NIR spectroscopy can be used for accurate and fast determination of natural durability of a large number of samples. (Résumé d'auteur