ABSTRACT
Bamboo is a monocotyledon of tropical origin which grows fast and is considered an important environment regenerator because of its root system. Dendrocalamus giganteus is popular learned by giant bamboo, being a big bush species, its culms can be from 24 to 40 meters high, with diameters from 10 and 20 centimeters. This work had the objective of a chemical analysis from giant bamboo to aim at giving information from its chemical composition from 2 to 6 years of age. Bamboo culms were collected in the Agriculture Experimental area of the Mechanical Engineering Department of UNESP - Bauru, where it is carried out the systematic handling from different bamboo species to this plant research and divulgation. Samples from base were collected from 2 and 6 years in the same bush, in total of 5 samples, with 2 high meters each, cropped in March, half-moon. Chemical analysis was done with internodes using TAPPI Methods. The average percentage extractives from hot water, cool water, total extractives and ash content were not related to the age. The major percentage of hot water extractives, with values of 12.04%, cold water extractives, with 10.25%, and total extractives, with 12.91%, was observed by the age of two years. The major ash content was obtained on three years, with value of 1.09%. The mean value of NaOH extractives decreased from 25.72%, in two years, to 20.17% at six years old. The same behavior was observed for ethanol toluene extractives, decreasing from 10.91% to 4.61%. The mean lignin content was not influenced by age, varying from 22.66 to 24.11%.
Keywords:
Dendrocalamus giganteus; extractives; lignin; ash