Preparation of bamboo-derived structured cellulose and its evaluation as resin composite materials

Abstract

Bamboo, a highly productive and renewable resource, shows a high strength among other biomass resources. Composites of lignocellulose with a polymer are attracting attention as a new material for buildings and furniture according to recent demands for sustainable development goals (SDGs). The present report describes the first preparation of a composite with resin using an organosolv technique with water and 1-butanol solvent as pre-treatment of bamboo.Organosolv treatment at 453 K selectively removed lignin and hemicellulose from bamboo without causing over-decomposition of cellulose. The delignified bamboo was impregnated with a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and hydroxyethyl methacrylate using a decompressed method. The structure of the bamboo-derived cellulose piece remained the same as it was after polymer impregnation without any molding process. Amount of the polymer impregnated into the bamboo after organosolv was significantly greater (34%) than that without organosolv.Impregnated state in the delignified bamboo was evaluated using morphological observations and determination of the properties of mesopores, which formed in the gap between cellulose microfibrils during organosolv. Results indicated that the composite of bamboo-derived structured cellulose with the co-polymer was prepared successfully, and the vascular bundles, including cell walls as well as parenchyma cells, were impregnated with the resin. Compressive strength of impregnated delignified bamboo was evaluated and found to be 12.7 MPa.