Physical and chemical characteristics of the bamboo culm and wood carbonized at low temperature

Physical and chemical characteristics of bamboo culm heat-treated at low temperature (200 °C to 320 °C) were analyzed to understand their carbonization mechanisms. The physical features and chemical compositions of four Indonesian and one Korean bamboo species were examined, and they were compared with red pine and cork oak after treatment. Weight loss, pH, and calorific value increased with increasing temperature. Weight loss and calorific value of the bamboo species increased from 200 to 240 °C, while those of the wood species increased from 240 to 280 °C. The pH of the bamboo and wood changed from acidic to neutral at 280 and 320 °C, respectively. The crystalline cellulose of the samples in the X-ray diffraction analysis changed to amorphous at various temperatures for each material. In Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, all species showed a considerable change in hemicellulose peaks at 280 °C and a substantial change in cellulose peaks at 320 °C. In conclusion, the carbonized bamboo culm showed a considerable difference, at 200 °C to 320 °C, in the physical and chemical characteristics.