Search Results (12)

Against the backdrop of the global “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic” initiative, China’s bamboo processing industry has expanded rapidly, generating large amounts of residues annually. To achieve high-value utilization of this biomass, this study optimized the fluidized bed pyrolysis process using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Bamboo residue served as the feedstock, with particle size (8–28 mesh), pyrolysis temperature (400–700 °C), and N₂ flow rate (25–30 L/min) as independent variables. The yields of pyrolytic char, pyrolytic oil, and total product were targeted for optimization. Interaction effects between each pair of variables—such as particle size and temperature, etc.—were systematically evaluated, revealing significant coupling influences on product distribution. Optimal conditions were identified as 10–12 mesh, 577 °C, and 27.5 L/min N₂ flow, yielding 28.65% char and 43.50% bio-oil, with a total yield of 72.15%, consistent with RSM predictions. This study confirms the effectiveness of RSM in optimizing bamboo pyrolysis and offers valuable insights for industrial-scale valorization of bamboo residues into biochar and bio-oil. Full article

To advance “bamboo-as-plastic-substitute” initiatives and the sustainable use of furniture materials, this study investigates flattened bamboo sheets by determining their principal-direction elastic constants and evaluating two common furniture T-joints—dowel-jointed panel-type and right-angle mortise-and-tenon frame-type—through tensile and bending load-bearing tests alongside finite element (FE) comparisons. The results show a pronounced anisotropy, with the longitudinal elastic modulus markedly higher than in other directions. At the joint level, the average ultimate load-bearing capacities were 4.06 kN (panel-type tension), 3.70 kN (frame-type tension), 0.264 kN (panel-type bending), and 0.589 kN (frame-type bending). Under identical structural configurations and boundary conditions, the tensile and bending capacities of flattened bamboo sheets were comparable to or exceeded those of the comparator materials (MDF, cherry wood, bamboo-based composites), and failures predominantly occurred in the adhesive layer rather than the bamboo substrate. Across four representative cases, FE predictions achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 6.5% with a maximum relative error of 12.5%; the regression correlation was R² ≈ 0.999 based on four paired observations, which should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. The study validates that FE models driven by experimentally measured anisotropic parameters can effectively reproduce the mechanical response of flattened bamboo T-joints, providing a basis for structural design, lightweighting, and parameter optimization in furniture applications. Further work should characterize adhesive systems, environmental durability, and interfacial failure mechanisms to enhance the model’s general applicability. Full article

The development of novel materials from biomass is a potential alternative to replace traditional petrochemical resources. In accordance with the “Bamboo Substitute Plastic” initiative, bamboo-based lightweight porous materials are a class of foam materials fully prepared from biomass resources with a lightweight and high-strength structure. However, issues such as excessive lignin content and uneven pore structure distribution within these materials hinder their application. This study utilized bamboo powder as a raw material to prepare lightweight, porous molding materials through a hydrothermal grinding process. The influence of different concentrations of alkaline pretreatment was investigated. The fabricated molding material had a density of 0.36–0.49 g/cm³ at 80 °C and 0.32–0.38 g/cm³ at 105 °C. Samples dried at 80 °C had a water absorption of 161% to 304%, while those dried at 105 °C had a water absorption of 223% to 305%. The wet swelling was characterized by volume expansion from 6.2% to 7.7%. The surface of the molding materials became increasingly homogeneous without any cracks due to the alkali pretreatment. FTIR data showed that more surface hydroxyl groups were observed after alkaline pretreatment, and some carbonyl groups in the hemicellulose structure were removed; meanwhile, the crystallinity index after alkaline pretreatment was higher than that of untreated bamboo. The alkali solution was proposed to remove part of the lignin and improve the fibrillation degree of the bamboo fibers. The highest tensile strength of the samples was 9.63 MPa, while the highest compressive strength obtained was 0.92 MPa under the alkali treatment. With lightweight and fully degradable properties, the bamboo-based porous molding materials have promising application prospects in environmental protection, construction, packaging, and related fields. Full article

Driven by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic” initiative, China has become a key bamboo industry player by leveraging abundant resources and an integrated supply chain. To enhance international competitiveness, optimizing product structure and market resilience is essential. Using descriptive statistics, visualization, trade concentration index, and K-means clustering, this study analyzed China’s bamboo trade spatiotemporal patterns and market resilience based on 2015–2024 China customs data. Results revealed major revisions in the Harmonized System (HS) codes for bamboo products in 2017, yet existing classifications remain insufficiently detailed. Imports declined overall, characterized by fragmented primary products mainly sourced from the Taiwan region of China and Vietnam. In contrast, exports grew steadily, led by Bamboo Tableware, with the United States, Japan, and Europe as key markets, and notable expansion into Southeast Asia. In 2024, bamboo products accounted for over 99% of China’s total bamboo trade value, and the export–import gap kept widening. Compared with 2015, export concentration declined: low- and medium-concentration markets increased, highly concentrated ones decreased, and overall resilience improved. Cluster analysis split core destinations into seven groups in 2015 but only five in 2024, signalling broader demand diversity and fewer single-category-dominated markets. The study recommends refining HS codes to reflect new bamboo innovations; consolidating markets in Europe and America while expanding differentiated demand in Southeast Asia; upgrading Bamboo Tableware through technology; and boosting core product competitiveness to support global bamboo trade and the “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic” initiative. Full article

Bamboo gene science has witnessed significant advancements over the past two decades, driven by breakthroughs in gene cloning, marker-assisted breeding, sequencing, gene transformation, and gene editing technologies. These developments have not only enhanced our understanding of bamboo’s genetic diversity and adaptability but also provided critical tools for its genetic improvement. Compared to other crops, bamboo faces unique challenges, including its long vegetative growth cycle, environmental dependency, and limited genetic transformation efficiency. Then, the launch of China’s “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic” initiative in 2022, supported by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, has opened new opportunities for bamboo gene science as well as for bamboo production systems. This policy framework has spurred research into bamboo genetic regulation, fiber-oriented recombination, and green separation technologies, aiming to develop sustainable alternatives to plastic. Future research directions include overcoming bamboo’s environmental limitations, improving genetic transformation efficiency, and deciphering the mechanisms behind its flowering. By addressing these challenges, bamboo genetic science can enhance its economic and ecological value, contributing to global sustainability goals and the “dual-carbon” strategy. Full article

With the increasing demand for environmental protection, flattened bamboo is gradually attracting attention as a sustainable material. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the surface properties of flattened bamboo and PU self-foaming plastic by subjective and objective evaluation methods, and to explore the substitutability of flattened bamboo and PU self-foaming plastic in furniture design. Objective test methods such as surface hardness testing, gloss measurement, and friction coefficient determination were used in the experiments, and the subjective evaluation of visual and tactile perception of the materials were combined with the semantic differential method. It was found that the flattened bamboo was generally superior to the PU self-foaming plastics in terms of color, gloss, roughness, and wettability, giving a more delicate, warm and comfortable feeling, while the PU self-foaming plastics stood out in terms of personalized style. Further correlation analysis showed that surface gloss and color saturation had a significant effect on the users’ psychological feelings. This study provides a scientific basis for replacing PU self-foaming plastic with bamboo in furniture design and also provides a valuable reference for “bamboo instead of plastic” product design. Full article

Phyllostachys edulis, an economically and ecologically significant bamboo species, has substantial research value in applications as a bamboo substitute for plastic and in forest carbon sequestration. However, frequent seasonal low-temperature events due to global climate change affect the growth, development, and productivity of P. edulis. Calcium signaling, serving as a versatile second messenger, is involved in various stress responses and nitrogen metabolism. In this study, we analyzed the calcium signaling dynamics and regulatory strategies in P. edulis under chilling stress. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the CBF families, AMT families, NRT families, and Ca²⁺ sensor families, including CaM, CDPK, and CBL, were identified using transcriptomics. Additionally, we explored the law of Ca²⁺ flux and distribution in the roots of P. edulis under chilling stress and validated these findings by assessing the content or activity of Ca²⁺ sensor proteins and nitrogen transport proteins in the roots. The results indicated that the Ca²⁺ sensor families of CaM, CDPK, and CBL in P. edulis exhibited significant transcriptional changes under chilling stress. Notably, PH02Gene03957, PH02Gene42787, and PH02Gene19300 were significantly upregulated, while the expressions of PH02Gene08456, PH02Gene01209, and PH02Gene37879 were suppressed. In particular, the expression levels of the CBF family gene PH02Gene14168, a downstream target gene of the calcium channels, increased significantly. P. edulis exhibited an influx of Ca²⁺ at the root, accompanied by oscillating negative peaks under chilling stress. Spatially, the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) within the root cells increased. The CIPK family genes, interacting with Ca²⁺-CBL in downstream signaling pathways, showed significant differential expressions. In addition, the expressions of the NRT and AMT family genes changed correspondingly. Our study demonstrates that Ca²⁺ signaling is involved in the regulatory network of P. edulis under chilling stress. [Ca²⁺]_cyt fluctuations in the roots of P. edulis are induced by chilling stress, reflecting an influx of extracellular Ca²⁺. Upon binding to Ca²⁺, downstream target genes from the CBF family are activated. Within the Ca²⁺–CBL–CIPK signaling network, the CIPK family plays a crucial role in nitrogen metabolism pathways. Full article

Bamboo breeding strategies are essential in realizing “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic (BASP)”. This review article aims to explore the crucial role of breeding strategies in achieving the substitution of plastic products with bamboo as outlined under the BASP Initiative. Firstly, we address the issue of plastic pollution, along with the background of reducing the market share and demand for plastic products. It categorizes the types of bamboo products that can fully or partially replace plastic products in various categories, such as daily necessities, building materials, and industrial products. Then, we investigate which bamboo species can replace which plastic products and propose the need for bamboo improvement. Furthermore, it presents data from positioning observation research stations for bamboo forest ecosystems in China and outlines the essential traits necessary for bamboo substitution, including characteristics like long internode length, extended fiber length, thick culm wall, and optimal cellulose-to-lignin content ratio, among others. Finally, we discuss breeding methods and genetic improvement as key strategies to achieve bamboo substitution and suggest the potential of enhancing bamboo traits to serve as a viable replacement source for plastics. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance bamboo’s growth features and physical properties to meet the criteria for substituting bamboo for plastics effectively. Full article

With the scarcity of wood resources and calls for “substituting bamboo for wood” and “substituting bamboo for plastic”, bamboo has gained greater popularity for its abundant reserves and outstanding mechanical properties. However, Mildew is a common problem for bamboo, which can significantly reduce the quality and service lives of bamboo products. In this work, a safe, eco-friendly, controllable and efficient method of gamma-ray irradiation was used to modify bamboo. The irradiation dose, moisture content (MC), and irradiation dose rate were adopted as factors of an orthogonal experiment. The results showed that the bamboo strips reached their best mechanical properties under the condition of irradiation at 150 KGy doses, moisture content of 40%, and irradiation dose rate of 44 KGy/H. In addition, the change in the chemical composition of bamboo and mildew resistance was also explored in this paper. The major chemical components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin), as well as starch, were degraded, and the bamboo strips exhibited excellent mildew resistance after gamma-ray irradiation. Full article

The coagulating properties of wood vinegar from para rubber wood, bamboo, and coconut shell used as a substitute for acetic acid in the production process of natural rubber (NR) sheets were investigated and considered. For the dirt and volatile content, the tensile strength at break, the percentage of elongation at break, and the 300% modulus, the results showed that the types of wood vinegar coagulants were not significantly different from acetic acid. However, the Mooney viscosity and plasticity retention index (PRI) properties were significantly different from those of acetic acid. The NR sheet temperature increased rapidly during the first hour after the drying process started due to heat transfer from the hot air. Afterward, the temperature of the NR sheet samples began to stabilize. When the drying process started, the drying temperature was increased, so the trend was reducing the drying time. For the yellowness index (YI) value, the increase in the YI value was related to the type of coagulating material, the increase in the airspeed, and the drying temperature. The dried sheet samples using para rubber wood vinegar as the coagulating material had a color value at the same level as acetic acid and the referent. However, the bamboo and coconut shell wood vinegars were at a lower level. In comparing the YI value data between the experimental results and prediction values, the second-degree model had a better fit in prediction than the zero-degree and first-degree models. This result was confirmed by the higher mean of the coefficient of determination. The dried sheet product coagulated by using wood vinegar had fungus growth prior to supplying it to the customer. Full article

Plastics and foaming agents are often used to prepare large-size and low-density bamboo charcoal (BC) based composites. In this study, a plastic-free and foaming agent-free BC based composite was prepared by substituting sodium silicate (SS) for plastics. The effect of both the BC particle sizes and the usage amount of SS on the mechanical and adsorptive properties of the BC/SS composites were investigated. The experimental results show that when the BC particle size is 270 μm and the mass ratio of BC to SS is equal to 10:5, the BC/SS composite has the optimal foaming effect and best comprehensive properties. In addition, the foaming pores of the composite are caused by water vapor, which has difficulty escaping the BC because of the blockage of SS during the hot pressing process. In the BC/SS composite (10:5), the static bending intensity and the compressive strength reach respectively 6.13 MPa and 5.5 MPa, and the average pore size and porosity are 557.85 nm and 52.03%, respectively. In addition, its formaldehyde adsorptionrate reaches 21.6%. In view of good mechanical properties, formaldehyde adsorption, and environmentally friendly performance, the BC/SS composite has a great potential as a core layer of interior building materials. Full article

In this study, bamboo charcoal (BC) was used as a substitute filler for bamboo powder (BP) in a lignocellulose-plastic composite made from polylactic acid (PLA), with aluminum hypophosphite (AHP) added as a fire retardant. A set of BC/PLA/AHP composites were successfully prepared and tested for flame-retardancy properties. Objectives were to (a) assess compatibility and dispersibility of BC and AHP fillers in PLA matrix, and (b) improve flame-retardant properties of PLA composite. BC reduced flexural properties while co-addition of AHP enhanced bonding between PLA and BC, improving strength and ductility properties. Adding AHP drastically reduced the heat release rate and total heat release of the composites by 72.2% compared with pure PLA. The formation of carbonized surface layers in the BC/PLA/AHP composites effectively improved the fire performance index (FPI) and reduced the fire growth index (FGI). Flame-retardant performance was significantly improved with limiting oxygen index (LOI) of BC/PLA/AHP composite increased to 31 vol%, providing a V-0 rating in UL-94 vertical flame test. Adding AHP promoted earlier initial thermal degradation of the surface of BC/PLA/AHP composites with a carbon residue rate up to 40.3%, providing a protective layer of char. Further raw material and char residue analysis are presented in Part II of this series. Full article