Thermal softening and cell wall chemistry of plantation-grown palasan (Calamus merrillii becc) canes

Issue Date

12-2011

Abstract

Softening temperature of plantation-grown palasan (Calamus merrillii Becc.) cane was measured. The chemical constituents of its cell wall were likewise determined using standard procedures used in wood. Softening temperature was about 84.44°C to 86.37°C which is within the range of wild palasan canes and it was unaffected by the origin of the sample. Holocellulose content was about 64.54% - 75.38%, in which 37.08% - 48.08% is cellulose and 23.09 % - 36.43% is hemicellulose. Lignin constitutes approximately 22.16% - 32.10% of the wall. Relationship between the chemical constituents and softening temperature was not detected. The fabricated thermomechanical analyzer was limited to the detection of macrostrains occurring in the sample and could not detect deflection down to the microstrain level where these individual chemical constituents normally move. Nonetheless, the device was able to prove that plantation-grown palasan canes have the same softening temperature as that of wild palasan canes. This material could be converted into furniture of the same quality as that of wild rattan canes. This confirms the utility of plantation-grown palasan canes to the rattan furniture Industry.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Science

ISSN

0031-7683

Volume

140

Issue

2

Page

153-159

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

illustrations, tables, graphs

Language

English

Subject

Cellulose, Hemicellulose, Holocellulose, Lignin, Palasan canes, Softening temperature, Thermomechanical analyzer

Digital Copy

yes

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