A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
Bamboo is an abundant source of biomass that is underutilized despite having a chemical composition and fiber structure similar to wood. However, there is limited information about the chemical characterization of its culms for its utilization and processing. This paper investigated the main chemical compositions of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years old B. longispiculata (Talla bamboo) at their three specific positions (top, medium and bottom). All the tests were conducted following the standard TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) methods. The water-soluble extract of the bamboo is in the range of 3.94-7.09%, 4.56-7.20% and 19.12-27.64% for cold water, hot water and caustic soda (1% NaOH) solubility respectively for 1-5 years old bamboo at their different ages and heights. The top culm position of 5 years old bamboo had the maximum holocellulose content (72.83%). The bottom part of 5 years old bamboo showed the highest (6.39%) benzene-ethanol extract. On an average 3 to 5 years old of bamboo showed the highest lignin content (30.86%) while the minimum lignin content (25.75%) was observed for the top culm position of one-year-old bamboo. Thus, the chemical characterization in the bamboo species will facilitate the alternative use of their processing and utilization-related industry.