Geographical origin classification of Phoebe zhennan and Phoebe bournei by solid phase micro-extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

AbstractPhoebe zhennan and Phoebe bournei are favored for their fine-grain, insect resistance, special fragrance, not easily cracked and deformed, which had been widely used in furniture and construction. Wood authenticity regarding different varieties and geographical origins is increasingly becoming a concern for consumers. Due to the difference in wood quality characteristics and economic value of genus Phoebe species from different geographical origins, it is important to establish a fast, efficient, and reliable method to discriminate the geographical origin of Phoebe zhennan and Phoebe bournei. Solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) was used as sample preparation approach and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technique was employed to analyze the volatile compounds. As a result, a total of 40 volatiles were identified by SPME–GC–MS among Phoebe zhennan samples from four origins, while 34 substances identified among Phoebe bournei samples. The wood samples of Phoebe zhennan and Phoebe bournei from different major production areas in China were able be discriminated by GC–MS spectroscopy. This finding indicated that genus Phoebe species from different climate zones had different chemical composition, which verified that the SPME–GC–MS technique can be used to classify different species of wood with characteristic compounds.