Thermal Softening and Cell Wall Chemistry of Plantation-Grown Palasan (Calamus merrillii Becc) Canes
Willie P. Abasolo*
Forest Products and Paper Science Department
College of Forestry and Natural Resources,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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.
INTRODUCTION
The natural forest could no longer sustain the raw material requirements of the rattan furniture industry. This is brought about by the unhampered destruction of natural forest habitat vis-à-vis the unabated extraction of raw rattan canes. Rattan plantation will therefore play a key role in sustaining the rattan furniture industry. Properly managed plantations will not only provide the industry with a sustainable source of raw materials but would also offer a more stable livelihood for rattan gatherers, farmers, manufacturers and other . . . . . . . . . . .
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