Abstract: The removal effect of formic acid on the non-cellulose component of natural bamboo material was discussed. The results show that: the removal effect on non-cellulose component of bamboo material was significantly enhanced by the inorganic acid catalyst; hydrochloric acid’s catalysis effect was the best among nitric acid, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. Formic acid can effectively remove the non-cellulose component of bamboo material, but almost has no effect on the cellulose component. Formic acid’s concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time are three factors that have important influence on the removal ratio of non-cellulose component of bamboo material, through an orthogonal experiment, we concluded that the influence effect of the three factors is: concentration > temperature > time; The optimum treatment conditions were found to be: 0.3%HCl as the catalyst, 80% of formic acid, 100℃ and 2h of processing time; in this condition, the removal rate of 42.8%.

Key words: formic acid, bamboo, non-cellulose component, removal effect