Ethiopian Bamboos are Best for High Value Industrial Products

Fiber length, fiber width and wall thicknesses

Fiber diameter and fiber wall thickness

Finished bamboo floor products

EABP-Addis Ababa

In order to investigate the technical feasibility of using two Ethiopian indigenous bamboo species for industrial products and to disseminate the scientific findings to the potential investors emerging in the area of bamboo industrial venture, the Eastern Africa Bamboo Project (EABP) funded by the Common Fund for Commodities/CFC/ has carried out tests on the industrial properties and compatibility of the bamboo species in a research institute in Malaysia based on the request from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD). It has been reported that the test results are promising for the industrial applications of both species. High quality bamboo panel products: (namely Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), Strand boards (OSBs), ply boards and laminated bamboo lumber), bamboo curtains/blinds, pulp and paper, toothpicks, match-stick, incense-sticks, scaffolding sleepers, charcoal, etc can be produced.

The testing conducted at International Center for Bamboo & Rattan-China for Anatomical Characteristics of Ethiopian Lowland (solid) bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) that is covering 850,000ha in the Western part of Ethiopia also revealed remarkable results. The   fibers in the culms of O. abyssinica around vascular bundles formed a fiber sheath or fiber cap. They are long tapered at both ends and the measured results indicated that O. abyssinica fibers length differ with age, culm portion and culm wall thickness. Regardless of bamboo age and culm portion, fiber sheath percentage falls within the rage of 12 to 40 percent the fiber length within the rage of 1817 to 3088 µm, height and culm wall thickness the fiber diameter is in ranges from 12.77 to 18.77 µm while the height and wall thickness of the fiber wall thickness observed in ranges from 3.84 to 6.76 µm.

Vascular distribution of bundles among the culms height

Accordingly, the bottom and middle portion of 3 and 4 year-old O.abyssinica culms with less vascular bundles distribution can be used for bamboo-based board’s applications such as particleboards, medium density fiber board and strand boards and for pulp and paper manufacture. Moreover, the upper part consists mainly of many smaller vascular bundles with a high proportion of fibers can be used for pulp and paper manufacture, toothpick, match-stick, incense-sticks, scaffolding sleepers and charcoal production

This is a great contribution for the private sectors and other beneficiaries as it eliminates the need to perform similar preliminary tests which would normally require a considerable amount of funds and time.

Products in Cutting and Mechanical Testing Process