Production of nanocellulose and biocomposites from kawayan kiling (Bambusa vulgaris Schrader ex Wendland) shoots

Aileen Jara; Ramon Razal; Veronica Migo; Menandro Acda; Margaret Calderon; Leonardo Florece; Engelbert Peralta

Aileen A. Jara Department of Forest Products and Paper Science, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Ramon A. Razal Department of Forest Products and Paper Science, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines.
Veronica P. Migo Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Menandro N. Acda Department of Forest Products and Paper Science, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines.
Margaret M. Calderon Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Leonardo M. Florece School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Engelbert K. Peralta Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines

Keywords: Bamboo shoots, Bambusa vulgaris, nanocellulose, polyvinyl alcohol

Abstract

The study examined the potential of the shoots of a locally grown bamboo species, kawayan kiling, as a candidate raw material for nanocellulose production. The low lignin content of bamboo shoots which translates to ease of processing and low chemical and energy consumption, and the advantages of fast growth and wide distribution, altogether represent a favorable scenario for producing nanocellulose from bamboo shoots. Pretreatment of the bamboo shoots to isolate the cellulose consisted mainly of extraction with water, bleaching, and alkali treatment. After several trials under a variety of conditions, rod-like nanocellulose (NC) materials from bamboo shoots were obtained through hydrolysis of the isolated cellulose at 50% v/v H2SO4, 50oC, and 45-min reaction time. The resulting NC materials from the bamboo shoots were 5.80 to 8.57 nm in diameter and 82.93 to 170.67 nm in length. The aspect ratios of the NC materials ranged from 11.89 to 21.97, with the ratios decreasing with the severity of hydrolysis conditions. The study also showed the feasibility of using bamboo shoot NC as reinforcement to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films. Fabrication of the PVA/NC films involved the addition of the prepared bamboo shoot NC to PVA in an aqueous system, followed by solvent casting. The well-dispersed NC showed good reinforcement effects on the PVA matrix. NC-reinforced PVA films with enhanced mechanical properties were produced at 2% NC loading. The NC-reinforced PVA films exhibited a tensile strength of 32.46 MPa, 53% higher than that of neat PVA film.