Analysis of the role of wood anatomy on oxygen diffusivity in barrel staves using luminescent imaging

This paper explores the use of optical sensors to study the oxygen diffusivity of oak wood staves in wine barrel ageing for four months. 2-D oxygen distribution measurements were performed with planar optodes in combination with a colour RGB camera. The transparency of the optode enables to study the correlation of spatial heterogeneities −due to wood swelling during wetting- in O 2 concentration over the wood surface with data on the different anatomical structures involved. For the first time, oxygen dynamics were described with a resolution that permits the identification of the role of wood anatomy on oxygen permeability/diffusivity.