Water or moisture content analysis can be a challenging task in many applications. However, knowing accurately the type of water which can be found in a given sample or product can provide important information about a chemical compound used for wood treatment and especially about the treated wood sample. Moisture content in wood plays an important role in fungal growth and it needs to be extensively monitored. In this study, a new method for the moisture content or trace water analysis will be reviewed. The principle of the method, the main components of the device, the advantages and disadvantages of the method called Selective Water Detection System (SWDE), will be reviewed and presented. Probe molecules and wood samples will be used to explain and examine the type of information one can get using this analytical method. The method can provide information about how water is bonded to a substrate and what type of interactions water has in a sample. This information can be used to evaluate the structure of a chemical used in wood preservation, monitor the water repellency, or determine the type of chemical compound present on the treated wood (e.g. hydration number, weakly or strongly bonded water molecules, etc.). Probe molecules based on boron, commonly used as wood preservative will be used to explain and describe the instrument capabilities and the type of scientific information which can be obtained.

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