**2. Chemical composition of bamboo**

Cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin are the three major chemical compositions of bamboo, and they are closely associated in a complex structure [31]. They contribute about 90% of the total bamboo mass. The minor components are pigments, tannins, protein, fat, pectin and ash. Others include resins, waxes and inorganic salts. These constituents play an important role in physiological activity of bamboo, and they are found in cell cavity or special organelles [15]. The chemical composition of bamboo is known to be similar to that of wood, but bamboo has a higher content of minor components compared with wood [32].

Li et al. [33] in their studies reported the chemical composition of bamboo fibre as shown in **Table 4**. Usually, there is variation in the chemical composition of bamboo depending on their age. Notably, cellulose content decreases with increase in age of bamboo. Different authors have investigated different species and bamboo parts. They include bamboo (Kumamoto, Japan) with cellulose content of 47%, hemicelluloses 23% and lignin 28% [9]; bamboo with cellulose 43%, hemicelluloses 15% and lignin 26% [34]; bamboo (Dendrocalamus sp.) with cellulose 47%, hemicelluloses 16% and lignin 18% [35]; bamboo with cellulose 44%, hemicelluloses 30% and lignin 26% [36]; Moso bamboo (*Phyllostachys pubescens* Mazel), with cellulose 46%,


**Table 4.** Chemical composition of bamboo fibre [33].

hemicelluloses 23% and lignin 26% [37]; bamboo (*Dendrocalamus asper*) with cellulose 41%, hemicelluloses 27% and lignin 27% [38]; Moso bamboo (*Phyllostachys heterocycla*), with cellulose 42–47%, hemicelluloses 22–23% and lignin 23–31% [39]; bamboo, with cellulose 38.4%, hemicelluloses 20.5% and lignin 20.8% [40]; Moso bamboo (*Phyllostachys heterocycla*), with cellulose 37%, hemicelluloses 22% and lignin 24% [41]; bamboo shoots shell fibre (BSSF), with cellulose 23%, hemicelluloses 14% and lignin 11% and bamboo stem and leaf (BSL), with cellulose 21%, hemicelluloses 12% and lignin 12% [42].
