Improving the anti-mould property of Moso bamboo surface by using a bamboo green colour preservation approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bamboo is prone to mould infection and discolouration. Traditional methods of preventing mould are to peel off the green and yellow layers, and then anti-mould treatment was performed. Though these methods were efficient, the original green colour of bamboo was removed and resulted in resources waste because of the removal of the green portions. This paper presented an anti-mould property method of Moso bamboo surface by using a green colour preservation process. The results revealed that the outer bamboo skin processed a certain anti-mould effect. Based on this result, the green colour preservation method involving the alkali solution and the copper salt solution treatment processes could improve the anti-mould property of the Moso bamboo surface as well as the green colour by removing the covering wax and opening the stoma. Compared with the control, the treated specimen’s mould growth was delayed by 11 days. The mould area was reduced by half, which exhibited a green colour with a low a* value of −14.91.