Abstract
To protect bamboo from biological attack, influence of boiling treatment to vapor phase acetylation of bamboo was investigated, and moulds resistance tests of treated bamboo was conducted. Splited pieces of the Madake (Phyllostachys bambusoides Siebold et Zuccarini) were acetylated in acetic anhydride vapor at 140°C without any catàlysts. Weight percent gain(WPG) and acetyl content increased, but hot water extracts and free sugars decreased with increases in treating time. WPG of about 26% was achieved and no free sugars were detected due to acetylation for 2hr. Low level of moulds growth was, howerer, observed at bamboo acetylated for 2hr on moulds resistance tests, and the color of bamboo turned brownish by acetylation. Acetylated bamboo pretreated by boiling in water hardly showed coloration and moulds growth.
