The Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could be a suitable technique to assess chemicals used for wood durability improvement in the forest products industry. NIRS methodology can be used to obtain results more quickly, less costly and without damaging the wood. In this study, wood samples selected from heartwood and sapwood of Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) were prepared to assess the artificial durability by NIRS technique. Pieces of veneer (strips) of Maritime Pine were impregnated by wood preservatives containing active components such as boric acid, copper, cypermethrin, IPBC, permethrin, propiconazol, and tebuconazol. Four commercial products sold for industrial wood protection from different companies were tested. Three steeping times were used in order to obtain three concentrations of each product. They were applied on 120 strips of wood by products, 20 per concentration for both heartwood and sapwood. Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique was used to calibrate NIR spectra collected. In this preliminary study, we expose the first results on qualitative and quantitative assessment by using NIRS technique of chemicals used for wood durability improvement. It was possible to distinguish between raw and commercial products treated Maritime pine wood containing organic and inorganic preservatives. This shows the potential of NIRS technique which could be used efficiently in rapid identification and quantification of organic and inorganic wood preservatives.

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