A non-destructive approach to wood origin differentiation using FD-FLIM

Wood auto-fluorescence, primarily attributed to lignin, presents a distinctive feature. Different wood species exhibit variations in lignin distribution. Frequency-Domain Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy is effective in distinguishing wood species based on their fluorescence characteristics. This study investigates the potential to differentiate the origins of beech, spruce, and larch through phase-dependent fluorescence decay times. Therefore the zero hypothesis H0 is tested: The phase dependent fluorescence lifetimes of samples from the same species but varying in origin are equal. To determine the fluorescence characteristics of woods of different origins, wood samples of the species Fagus sylvatica L. (beech), Larix decidua Mill. (larch), and Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. (spruce) from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, New Zealand and Romania were analyzed. The wood samples were analyzed with a FD-FLIM camera setup, including a laser source emitting at an excitation wavelength of 445 nm. Employing Analysis-of-Variance hypothesis testing on fluorescence lifetime data for each wood species, the results indicate that 23 out of 35 origin pairs could be distinguished at a 5% significance level. While acknowledging the challenges of origin-based differentiation, the findings emphasize the promising potential of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope as a valuable tool in this context. Moving forward, a more intricate approach to sample differentiation should involve acquiring detailed information about the samples, including associated temperature and precipitation profiles, and soil composition.