Bamboo can be used in a variety of ways, including as fuel and as household and construction materials. Due to its versatility, the material is of high economic value. This study investigated the fuel properties of six bamboo species grown in Indonesia. Each bamboo sample was carbonized at different temperatures. Proximate and ultimate analyses were carried out on the bamboo samples. The thermal maturity of the bamboo samples as a solid fuel was investigated by the van Krevelen diagram. The efficiency of bamboo at each carbonizing temperature was determined based on the char yield, energy densification rate, energy efficiency, and calorific value. The results showed that the ash and fixed carbon contents of carbonized bamboo increased with an increasing carbonization temperature; while the volatile matter decreased. Significant changes in the fuel properties were observed between 200 °C and 400 °C. Carbonized bamboos showed lower sulfur contents in comparison to other fossil fuels. Ampel bamboo showed a calorific value of 18 MJ/kg to 32 MJ/kg, which was the highest value among the samples. Bamboo carbonized at temperatures above 600 °C showed a thermal maturity of coal grade. The results of this study can be used for utilizing Indonesian bamboo as a fuel source.
The tensile properties and impact strength of wood flour-polypropylene composite with or without impact modifier and coupling agent have been investigated. The addition of maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide improved the tensile properties and impact strength. With increasing ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) and maleic anhydride (MAH)-modified ethylene-propylene rubber (MEPR), impact strength were increased, whereas tensile strength and Young's modulus were decreased. At the same EPR or MEPR content, the higher filler loadings resulted in higher Young's modulus and lower impact strength. Tensile properties and impact strength were greatly improved by adding EPR combined with maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) and dihydroquinoline.
This study investigated the anatomical and non-anatomical characteristics of six wood species, Acacia mangium, Acacia hybrid, Dillenia pentagyna, Anacardium occidentale, Hevea brasiliensis, and Melaleuca cajuputi, from a plantation in Vietnam. The anatomical characteristics and non-anatomical characteristics were observed following the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA) list. All species showed diffuse porosity and non-septate fibers. Exclusively solitary vessels were only observed in M. cajuputi. Vestured pits were observed in A. mangium, A. hybrid, and M. cajuputi, and tyloses were found in A. occidentale and H. brasiliensis. We observed vasicentric axial parenchyma in A. mangium, A. hybrid, A. occidentale, and H. brasiliensis, whereas diffuse axial parenchyma was observed in D. pentagyna and M. cajuputi. Further, prismatic crystals in the axial parenchyma cells existed in A. mangium, A. hybrid, and H. brasiliensis, and raphides in ray cells were observed in D. pentagyna. Silica bodies in ray cells were found in A. occidentale and M. cajuputi. H. brasiliensis exhibited the greatest vessel diameter and ray height, with D. pentagyna exhibiting the greatest fiber length and wall thickness. All the species showed considerable differences in heartwood fluorescence, water and ethanol extract colors, and froth test reactions.
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