Wood liquefaction with phenol by microwave heating and FTIR evaluation

We examined wood liquefaction using phenol and mixed acid catalysts with microwave heating, and compared that with similar processes that use oil bath heating. The reaction time for microwave heating to achieve a residue content was one sixth, one eighteenth, and one twenty-fourth of that from oil bath heating, respectively, for phenol to wood （P/W） ratios of 2.5/1, 2/1 and 1.5/1. A low P/W ratio tended to result in carbonization of liquefied wood due to an insufficient amount of phenol and localized microwave superheating. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic （FTIR） evaluation of the liquefied residue, showed that the liquefaction rates of wood com- ponents differed. Hemicellulose was most susceptible to liquefaction, crystalline cellulose was most recalcitrant, and guaiacyl units the most prone to re-condensation. From FTIR, the chemical components and substitution patterns of bonded phenol were similar for both methods.

Anatomical characteristics of fusoid cells and vascular bundles in Fargesia yunnanensis leaves

As of today, the functions of fusoid cell, and the transport and loading pathways of photoassimilate in bamboo leaves are still not clear. In this paper, the leaves of Fargesia yunnanensis from a greenhouse and the wild were respectively used as samples to analyze the anatom- ical characteristics of fusoid cells and vascular bundles. The results showed that the bamboo leaves from green- house got shorter and thinner with fewer layers of palisade parenchyma cells than those from the wild. The volumes of fusoid ceils were also increased. Fusoid cells originated from a huge parenchyma cell as testified by the observed nuclei. Several fusoid cells usually formed one cell com- plex close to the midrib. Crystals were detected in fusoid cells but no pits or plasmodesmata on their walls, sug- gesting that fusoid cells had the function of regulating water. The presence of fusoid cells determined the major difference between a leaf blade and sheath. There were prominent chloroplasts with simple stroma lamellae in the parenchymatous bundle sheath cells and starch grains were also observed in these chloroplast. Photoassimilates could be transported across vascular bundle sheath via symplas- mic pathways for an abundant of plasmodesmata in sheath cell walls, and transported into phloem tube by apoplastic pathway as there were no pits in the walls of companion cells and phloem tubes.

Optimization for microwave-assisted direct liquefaction of bamboo residue in glycerol/methanol mixtures

Bamboo residues were liquefied in a mixture of glycerol and methanol in the presence of sulfuric acid using microwave energy. We investigated the effects of liquefaction conditions, including glycerol/methanol ratio, liquefaction temperature, and reaction time on the conversion yield. The optimal liquefaction conditions were under the temperature of 120 °C, the reaction time of 7 min, the glycerol–methanol–bamboo ratio of 8/0/2（W/W）, and the microwave power of 300 W. Maximum conversion yield was 96.7 %. The liquid products were separated into two contents（water soluble part and precipitate part） by addition of a sufficient amount of water. By Fourier transform infrared（FT-IR）, the water soluble content mainly contained glycerol and its derivate and carbohydrate degradation products, and the precipitate content was mainly lignin derivatives.

Effect of Fertilization on Anatomical and Physical-mechanical Properties of Neosinocalamus Affinis Bamboo

In order to maintain soil fertility of Neosinocalamus affinis plantations,fertilizers of N,P,and K were applied.The anatomical and physical-mechanical properties of N.affinis bamboo wood from different fertilization treatments were measured.The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of fertilization practice on the properties of N.affinis bamboo wood.The results revealed that the fertilization of P and K resulted in a slight reduction in fiber length.The application of P,K,and low level(0.3 kg/clump)of N fertilizers had no significant effect on the fiber morphology,while high level(0.9 kg/clump)of N fertilizer contributed to short fibers.The specific gravity was significantly decreased by fertilization,while the volume shrinkage was increased.Since the effect of various fertilization treatments had different influence patterns on the properties of N.affinis,specific evaluations on the quality of the fertilized bamboo wood should be performed prior to its utilization.