Real-Time Wood Chemotyping Using a Low-Cost and Compact Mass Spectrometer

The ongoing deforestation of critical ecosystems such as the Amazon─driven largely by illegal logging─highlights the urgent need for accessible, scientifically robust tools for reliable timber identification. Traditional anatomical methods often fall short when distinguishing between morphologically similar species, while advanced analytical techniques, though accurate, are typically expensive, laboratory-bound, and impractical for massive timber trade monitoring. In this study, we report the first application of a compact, low-cost mass spectrometer for direct chemotyping of tropical hardwoods, aiming to explore its potential application in timber identification in regulatory and enforcement contexts. Four high-value species prone to fraudulent substitution─Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany), Carapa guianensis (andiroba), Cedrela odorata (cedar), and Hymenaea courbaril (jatoba)─were analyzed from methanol/water (3:1) extracts using atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP-MS), an ambient ion source, and a single quadrupole mass analyzer (RADIAN ASAP, single quadrupole), without chromatographic separation. Chemometric analysis via PCA–LDA (combination between principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis) revealed clear species-specific chemical fingerprints and achieved 100% classification accuracy with minimal sample preparation. The proposed method combines high discriminatory power, lower cost, and operational simplicity in a laboratory-independent configuration with potential applicability across enforcement contexts such as airports, seaports, or mobile units. Its minimal infrastructure requirements suggest potential suitability for future on-site applications, contributing to improved analytical support in timber trade enforcement operations. This study provides a proof of concept for decentralized analytical approaches that may contribute to improved timber trade monitoring and biodiversity protection.