Physical, Chemical and Morphological Characteristics of Bamboo Species Guadua Trinii and Guadua Angustifolia and Their Potential to Produce High-Value Products

Abstract

High-value products can be obtained from non-traditional lignocellulosic resources, such as bamboo, taking full advantage of these materials through efficient, low-cost and low-pollution fractionation processes. This work aims to analyze the physical, chemical, and morphological differences between two bamboo species as a rapidly growing resource of great regional interest – Guadua trinii and Guadua angustifolia. Both samples were characterized in terms of basic density, morphological characteristics, and chemical composition. This work shows that G. trinii has a significantly denser woody structure, with a uniform density at the sampled culm height. The internal structure consists of a parenchyma matrix and vascular bundles composed of parenchyma cells and fiber bundles. G. angustifolia has significantly longer fibers. Chemical characterization showed differences between the carbohydrate and lignin contents. The results of this work are critical to know the potential of both bamboo species as a source of high-value products in the bamboo biorefinery framework.