Chemical, strength and microstructure characterization of Balinese bamboos as activated carbon source for adsorbed natural gas application

Abstract

Bamboo is one of promising biomass raw materials that has been widely researched, developed, manufactured as activated carbon (AC) and applied in many fields of life. However, there were only a few references associated to the use of bamboo AC as an adsorbent for Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) application. The purpose of this study was to characterize chemical, strength and microstructure of two types of local Balinese bamboo that were Tabah bamboo (Gigantochloc Nigrociliata) and Tamblang bamboo (Schizostachyum Brachycladum) as AC source. Characterization was carried out by undertaking proximate, ultimate, tensile tests, Van Soest analysis and microstructure observation. The results have showed that Tabah bamboo has 22.9151 % lignin, 44.9456 % cellulose, 84.56 % volatile and 44.47 % carbon, which were those characteristics higher than Tamblang bamboo. Furthermore, Tabah bamboo also has higher bond density vascular bundles, higher tensile strength (240.85 ± 17.53 Nmm-2) and fracture strength (182.39 ± 17.46 Nmm-2), lower ash (2.92 %), silica (1.84 %) and nitrogen (0.95 %) compared to Tamblang bamboo. Due to such characteristics, Tabah bamboo has greater potential as an AC precursor than Tamblang bamboo.