Classification of Amazonian fast-growing tree species and wood chemical determination by FTIR and multivariate analysis (PLS-DA, PLS)

Fast-growing trees like Capirona, Bolaina, and Pashaco have the potential to reduce forest degradation because of their ecological features, the economic importance in the Amazon Forest, and an industry based on wood-polymer composites. Therefore, a practical method to discriminate specie (to avoid illegal logging) and determine chemical composition (tree breeding programs) is needed. This study aimed to validate a model for the classification of wood species and a universal model for the rapid determination of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin using FTIR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics. Our results showed that PLS-DA models for the classification of wood species (0.84 = R2 = 0.91, 0.12 = RMSEP = 0.20, accuracy, specificity, and sensibility between 95.2 and 100%) were satisfied with the full spectra and the differentiation among these species based on IR peaks related to cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose. Besides, the full spectra helped build a three species universal PLS model to quantify the principal wood chemical components. Lignin (RPD = 2.27, Rc2= 0.84) and hemicellulose (RPD = 2.46, Rc2= 0.83) models showed a good prediction, while cellulose model (RPD = 3.43, Rc2= 0.91) classified as efficient. This study showed that FTIR-ATR, together with chemometrics, is a reliable method to discriminate wood species and to determine the wood chemical composition in juvenile trees of Pashaco, Capirona, and Bolaina.

Automated summary

This study validated a model for the classification of wood species and a universal model for the rapid determination of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin using FTIR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics. The results showed that the full spectra can be used to differentiate different species and identify infrared peaks associated with cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. In addition, the full spectra helped build a three species universal model for quantifying the principal wood chemical components. Therefore, the study demonstrated that FTIR-ATR, together with chemometrics, is a reliable method for discriminating wood species and determining wood chemical composition.