Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Department of Wood and Paper, Cha.C. Islamic Azad University, Chalus, Iran
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Due to the limited availability of raw materials required by Iran’s wood and paper industries, the utilization of lignocellulosic resources such as bagasse, reed, bamboo, cotton linters, cotton, kiwi pruning waste, rapeseed waste, and others plays a vital role in the country’s fiber sector. Among these, bamboo and reed—being renewable resources—should not be overlooked, as their stalks can supply a portion of the non-wood lignocellulosic materials of Iran's industries. This study was conducted to identify the mineral elements and chemical components of organic matter (in reed and bamboo stalks).
Materials and methods: Thirty reed and bamboo stalks were selected and harvested from the western region of Mazandaran. Initially, stalks flour and ash content were prepared according to TAPPI standard methods. The types and concentrations of mineral elements were determined using 63% nitric acid and an atomic absorption spectrometer. Then, the extractive content of the samples was measured. The extractives were isolated using acetone solvent, and the remaining extract was transferred to a glass vial. BSTFA reagent was added, and the samples were heated in a water bath (bain-marie bath) at 70°C for one hour, followed by injection into the GC-MS system. Compound identification was based on the retention-time diagram, calculation of the Kovats index, and comparison with the Adams table.
Findings: The results indicated that bamboo stalks had higher absorption levels of zinc, copper, and magnesium ions compared to reed. Conversely, reed stalks showed higher absorption of iron, lead, potassium, and manganese ions. GC-MS analysis revealed 96 compounds in reed stalks, with 2-Phenyl-N-methylaniline (25.99%), benzaldehyde (20.70%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (11.48%), and xylene (1.16%) being the most prominent. In bamboo stalks, 104 compounds were identified, with benzaldehyde (46.43%), iron monocarbonyl (1.94%), bibenzyl (1.58%), and vanillin (0.09%) being the most abundant.
Conclusion: The findings showed that magnesium had the highest absorption in reed, while lead had the lowest in bamboo. Chromatogram analysis identified nine compounds—xylene, benzaldehyde, benzyl chloride, benzene methanol, dodecane, tetradecane, bibenzyl, octadecane, and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid—as common to both reed and bamboo. Vanillin and iron monocarbonyl were specific to bamboo, while bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and gibberellin A3 were specific to reed. Among these, benzaldehyde was the most prevalent compound in both plants, indicating its potential role in the future applications of reed and bamboo stalks.
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