Heartwood and Sapwood of Tectona grandis wood characterized by CG/MS-PY

Teak wood has a high market value, being used for the manufacture of furniture, naval industry and others. Its wood presents high dimensional stability, resistance to xylophagous organisms and important phytochemical and pharmacological chemical compounds, which can enhance the use of its wood in the pharmaceutical industry. Color differences between the heartwood and sapwood of the teak wood are due to chemical components that need further studies. Heartwood and sapwood of T. grandis (teak), 15 years-old, were characterized by Py-CG/MS analysis and syringyl (S)/guaiacyl (G) ratio was evaluated. Heartwood and sapwood were pyrolyzed at 550°C and 62 and 51 compounds were identified from them, respectively. The largest number of compounds in the heartwood is due to the deposition of extractives during its formation. The organic compounds identified include 2-methylanthraquinone as one of the main component responsible for the resistance of the teak wood to biological factors (fungi and termites). The syringyl (S)/guaiacyl (G) ratio of heartwood and sapwood was 0.51 and 0.50, respectively.