CHARACTERISTICS OF BAMBOO BIOMASS FOR THE PULP PRODUCTION

This study investigated and compared the biomass quality of Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex J.C. Welndl. from two localities in Brazil, Campinas city in São Paulo state and Coelho Neto city in Maranhão state, for the pulp production. The samples were analyzed by their chemical characteristics, their basic densitys and their fiber morphologies. With the fiber measurements the following morphological relations were calculated: wall fraction, coefficient of flexibility, felting index and Runkel index. The results showed that the samples have similar basic density and Klason lignin, while the biomass from Coelho Neto has higher extractives content, lower holocellulose content and shorter length fiber when compared with the material from Campinas. Thus the biomass originating from Campinas has superior characteristics for the pulp production.