Training School 3
printApplication of NIR spectroscopy for wood science and technology research. CNR-IVALSA, San Michele all’ Adige, Italy. 19-21 April, 2016
The increased interest for application of NIR spectroscopy is observed in various fields, including forest and wood sciences. Vast amount of publication highlighted the potential of NIR in the characterization of wood in a wide sense. Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy published two special issues on wood, in 2010 and 2011, with a third number recently at the final editorial stage. Recently 548.000 results can be found in internet by searching “NIR & wood”. Even if the technique seems to be well adapted to both scientific and industrial applications, there are still basic problems regarding instrument selection, correct measurement routines, and spectra interpretation. The most important limitation of near infrared spectroscopy is the complexity of NIR spectra that includes signals of overlapping overtones corresponding to different vibrating functional groups. The spectral resolution and measurement range of the modern spectrometers is still restricted, what complicates the spectra interpretation even more. Other factors, such as surface preparation, ageing, weathering and roughness may influence the spectra outline as well. Finally, NIR is not a self-standing technology, which means that in order to predict material properties (chemical composition, physical/mechanical characteristics) reference method are indispensable. The goal of this presentation is to summarize state-of-the-art knowledge regarding recently available instrumentations, spectra acquisition and data mining in regard to forest/wood/biomaterials science and technology.
Interest in the use of NIR for wood and bio-based materials allowed COST FP1303 to develop a training school on the fundamentals of the method, which was held at CNR-IVALSA in April 2016. A book of abstracts was developed for this event, held in conjunction with COST FP1407.