Preservative treatment of the bamboos Dendrocalamus giganteus, Bambusa vulgaris and Gigantochloa nigrociliata

Abstract

Bamboo is crucial as a woody primary raw material for various products in tropical regions. It is also one of the strongest structural materials used in rural areas of developing countries. However, bamboo is susceptible to biodegradation, leading to the need for frequent replacement, which increases costs. Preservative treatment is essential to extend its lifespan. This study evaluated the feasibility of preservative treatment for three bamboo species: Dendrocalamus giganteus, Bambusa vulgaris and Gigantochloa nigrociliata. The Full-Cell (Bethel) process was used to treat bamboo samples with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) (As₂CrCuO₉). The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed by measuring penetration and retention efficiency in both green and dried bamboo. Results showed that dried bamboo exhibited higher penetration and retention efficiency compared to green bamboo. The average penetration efficiency of dried bamboo was 92.9 %, 91.0 % and 93.9 % for D. giganteus, B. vulgaris and G. nigrociliata, respectively. The retention efficiency was 1.7, 1.5 and 1.8 kg m⁻³ for D. giganteus, B. vulgaris and G. nigrociliata, respectively. These findings indicate that all three bamboo species can be treated effectively with CCA.