Comparison of the performances of handheld and benchtop near infrared spectrometers: Application on the quantification of chemical components in maritime pine (Pinus Pinaster) resin.

The aim of this study was to set up a chemometric procedure using near infrared spectra acquired with a low-cost handheld spectrometer (SCiO), to quantify the main chemical components of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) resin, in view of using the SCiO as a quality control tool for the tapping industry. This study was carried out on samples of resin harvested during the summer of 2018, in Biscarosse, France. Spectral data were collected using both an SCiO, and a benchtop spectrometer (MultiPurpose Analyzer I) for baseline reference . The rates of turpentine and rosin were quantified by gas chromatography (turpentine composition), liquid chromatography (rosin composition), and a ventilated oven . The chemometric procedure involved spectra preprocessing and relevant subset selection with the DUPLEX algorithm. Lastly, Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was used to calibrate the models. The quantitative predictive ability of the resulting PLS regression models was evaluated via Ratio of standard error of Performance to standard Deviation (RPD) statistics. The results show that spectra preprocessing enhanced the quantitative predictive ability. For MPA I, RPD > 3.5, which expresses some very good to excellent quantitative predictions of the models. For SCiO, RPD > 2.5, which expresses a good quantitative predictive ability for quality control purposes. Thus, RPD statistics confirm that an SCiO could be used as a quality control tool.

The condensed tannins of Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana Pierre): A molecular structure and thermal stability study.

In order to promote convenient strategies for the valorization of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre (Okoume) plywood and sawmill wastes industry in the fields of adhesives and composites, the total phenolic content of Okoume bark, sapwood and heartwood was measured. The molecular structure of tannins extracted from the bark was determined by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight (Maldi-ToF) mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The total phenolic content displayed significant difference (p = 0.001) between the bark, sapwood and heartwood which decreased as follows: 6 ± 0.4, 2 ± 0.8 and 0.7 ± 0.1% respectively. The pro-anthocyanidins content was also significantly different (p = 0.01) among the three wood wastes, and the bark was the richest in condensed tannins (4.2 ± 0.4%) compared to the sapwood (0.5 ± 0.1%) and heartwood (0.2 ± 0.2%). Liquid chromatography coupled mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and Maldi-ToF analysis of the bark showed for the first time that Okoume condensed tannins are fisetinidin, gallocatechin and trihydroxyflavan based monomers and complex polymers obtained with glycosylated units. No free catechin or robitinidin units were detected, whereas distinctive dihydroxy or trihydroxyflavan-3-benzoate dimers were observed in the investigated condensed tannin extracts. FTIR analysis showed the occurrence of glucan- and mannan-like sugars in the condensed tannins, and Maldi-ToF highlighted that these sugars should account for ten glycosylated units chemically bonded with two fisetinidins and one gallocatechin trimer. The condensation of these polyphenols with formaldehyde led to Stiasny numbers of 83.3, 73.3 and 53.3% for the bark, sapwood and heartwood, respectively.