Detection of pinosylvins in solid wood of Scots pine using Fourier transform Raman and infrared spectroscopy

Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared (DRIFT) and near infrared (N IR) FT-Raman spectroscopy were used to detect pinosylvins in the wood of Pi nus sylvestris L. trees. NIR FT-Raman spectroscopy offered the possibility of revealing pinosylvins simply by visual inspection of Raman spectra where as DRIFT spectra needed a more complicated evaluation. Pinosylvin and resin acids from Scots pine were examined as to the possibility of their being t he cause of observed spectral differences between sapwood and heartwood. Si nce pinosylvins are important compounds for the decay resistance of Scots p ine wood, the detection of pinosylvins with Raman spectroscopy might be use d to assess durability of wood products.