The production of high-value products derived from bamboo by steam pretreatment: Sugar-contained water solution and solid residue as a precursor for EDLC electrode

Abstract

In this study, the effect of steam treatment on bamboo in several conditions was comprehensively investigated. The sugar-contained water derived from bamboo could be extracted by the proper condition of steaming time and temperature. The highest amount of sugar content was 1.9oBx, found at the steaming condition of 200 °C and 2.5 h. The raw bamboo and the solid residue after steam treatment were converted into porous carbon by KOH activation. By the N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm analysis, the textural structures of activated carbons in the research were determined as the dominated-microporous structure. The BET specific area of activated carbon derived from the solid residue was up to 3445 m2 g−1. The microporous structure stimulated by KOH activation helped enhance the electrical performance of the carbon electrode for EDLC. Based on the electrochemical measurements, the capacitances of the samples derived from the solid residue were higher than that derived from bamboo. The results suggested that the steaming process was an effective pretreatment to take full advantage of the properties of bamboo.