A rapid transmittance near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy method was developed to predict the variationin chemical composition of solid wood. The effect of sample preparation, sample quantity (singleversus stacked multiple wood wafers), and NIR acquisition time on the quantification of
-celluloseand lignin content was investigated. Strong correlations were obtained between laboratory wetchemistry values and the NIR-predicted values. In addition to the experimental protocol and methoddevelopment, improvements in calibration error associated with utilizing stacked multiple wood wafersas opposed to single wood wafers are also discussed.Keywords: Loblolly pine (
Pinus taeda); aspen
(Populus trichocarpa); transmittance near-infraredspectroscopy (NIR); increment cores; wood wafer;
-cellulose content; lignin content; screening