Eco-friendly method to improve the durability of different bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens, Moso) sections by silver electrochemical treatment

Abstract

An ecological method to improve the durability of bamboo has been proposed by electrochemical silver modification of hemicellulose and lignin. The influences of silver electrochemistry on the different sections of bamboo cross (BC), bamboo radial (BR), bamboo skin (BS) and bamboo pith (BP) were studied. The surface morphology and chemical properties of different bamboo sections were studied by environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The crystallite size of the silver particles was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The fixation performance of silver particles was evaluated by leaching test. The microstructure and chemical composition of the bamboo were continuously observed and analyzed by ESEM and FTIR. The results showed that silver nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on the bamboo surface. BP had the most silver content due to more lignin and hemicellulose. A greater depth of penetration of the silver particles was observed for BC which has a vertical arrangement of its tissue. The mass loss rate of the different treated bamboo sections was significantly reduced by the decomposition of the fungi, especially for BS and BP (< 1 %). This study indicates that electrochemical silver modification of bamboo could be an effective alternative to the currently used preservation methods.