Comparison of colors, microstructure, chemical composition and thermal properties of bamboo fibers and parenchyma cells with heat treatment

The effects of heat treatment at various temperatures on mechanically separated bamboo fibers and parenchyma cells were examined in terms of color, microstructure, chemical composition, crystallinity, and thermal properties. The heat-treated parenchyma cells and fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), chemical composition analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results revealed that the colors of bamboo fibers and parenchyma cells were darkened as treatment temperature increased. The microstructure of the treated fibers and parenchyma cells slightly changed, yet the shape of starch granules in parenchyma cells markedly altered at a temperature of above 160 °C. The chemical compositions varied depending on the heat treatment temperature. When treated at 220 °C, the cellulose content was almost unchanged in fibers but increased by 15% in parenchyma cells; the hemicellulose content decreased and the lignin content increased regardless of fibers and parenchyma cells. The cellulose crystal structure was nearly unaffected by heat treatment, but the cellulose crystallinity of fibers changed more pronouncedly than that of parenchyma cells. The thermal stability of parenchyma cells after heat treatment was affected more substantially compared to fibers.