Evaluating bamboo species and age effects on dissolving grade pulp production for sustainable materials

The increasing demand for dissolving grade pulp and the limited availability of wood-based resources necessitate the exploration of fast-growing, renewable alternatives. Bamboo has emerged as a promising non-wood feedstock; however, systematic evaluations across species and age classes remain limited. In this study, five bamboo species [Dendrocalamus asper (Schult. & Schult.f.) Backer, Bambusa tulda Roxb., Bambusa nutans Wall. ex Munro, Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz, and Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss] from two age groups (one and two years old) were comprehensively assessed for dissolving pulp production using a unified and industry relevant processing route. A simple hot-water pretreatment was employed to selectively remove hemicelluloses and mineral impurities prior to kraft pulping and elemental chlorine free bleaching. Chemical characterization revealed high cellulose content and comparatively low lignin, ash, and silica across all species, with younger bamboo showing superior processability. Pretreatment significantly reduced ash and silica contents and enhanced delignification efficiency during kraft pulping. Among the evaluated feedstocks, one year old B. nutans exhibited the most favorable balance of pulp yield, low kappa number, and bleachability. The resulting dissolving pulp achieved high alpha cellulose content (93.7%), low hemicellulose (1.7%) and ash (0.23%) levels, high brightness (92.3%), and viscosity (467 mL g⁻¹), meeting key specifications for commercial dissolving grade applications. This work demonstrates that bamboo, when appropriately selected by species and age, can serve as a viable and sustainable alternative to wood for dissolving pulp production. The findings provide practical guidance for raw material selection and process integration in pulp and biorefinery industries, supporting the transition toward renewable and circular material systems.