The chemical composition of bamboo is similar to that of wood. Table 2-2 shows the chemical composition of bamboo [Higuchi 1957]. The main constituents of bamboo culms are cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin, which amount to over 90% of the total mass. The minor constituents of bamboo are resins, tannins, waxes and inorganic salts. Compared with wood, however, bamboo has higher alkaline extractives, ash and silica contents [Tomalang et al. 1980; Chen et al. 1985]. Yusoff et al. [1992] studied the chemical composition of one, two, and three year old bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii). The results.
