FIBRE MORPHOLOGY AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF GIGANTOCHLOA SCORTECHINII

Abstract

The chemical composition and fibre morphology of 1-y-old, 2-v-old and 3-y-old G. scortechinii were determined. In general, the fibre dimensions (except for fibre wall thickness and the Runkle and L/D ratios) increased with age, and fibre wall thickness and the Runkle ratio decreased with height. The long fibre (3.24 - 5.03 mm) and high L/D ratio (105 - 171) of G. scortechinii are attractive features of the species for papermaking. The chemical composition, correlated insignificantly with age (except for the cold water solubles content) and height (except for the hot water, alkali and alcohol-benzene solubles contents). The contents of the chemical components generally increased with age (except for alpha-cellulose and hot water solubles contents) and height (except for the lignin and cellulose contents). Regardless of age and culm height, the high cellulose content of this species (together with its fibre characteristics)indicates its good potential as a raw material for pulp and paper.