Cell wall pore structures of bamboo evaluated using gas adsorption methods

Abstract

Abstract The efficient conversion of bamboo biomass into biofuel and biomaterials as well as other chemical treatments are strongly related to the porosity of its cell wall. The present work characterizes the micropore and mesopore structure in the cell walls of six bamboo species using both CO2 and N2 adsorption methods. For comparison, two plantation wood species were also tested. As a whole, the tested bamboo species showed lower cell wall porosity (2.6%–3.8%) than wood species (4.0%–5.1%), indicating a more compact cell wall structure for bamboo than wood. Furthermore, the cell wall pore structure and porosity were shown to be tissue-specific, taking Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys eduli) for example, the parenchyma cells exhibited higher pore volume and porosity compared to the fibers. The obtained results provided additional explanations for the higher biomass recalcitrance of bamboo and bamboo fibers as compared to wood and parenchyma cells, with respect to cell wall pore structure.