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This study aims to characterize the cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) isolated from alkaline sulfite anthraquinone and methanol (ASAM) bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii) pulp. The hydrolysis was carried out using 64% (w/w) sulfuric acid at 45 °C for 45 min. The CNC was subjected to field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The measurement of diameter for CNC was done by FESEM and TEM, which was in the range of 10–20 nm. The XRD and FTIR results exhibited that bamboo CNC has higher crystallinity index, 78% compared to bleached ASAM bamboo pulp, 60%.

Alkali ratios and cooking time of the alkaline sulfite anthraquinone (AQ) and methanol (ASAM) pulping process of bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii) were studied. Bamboo chips were cooked at three different levels of sodium hydroxide and cooking time, namely 14, 16, or 18% for 60, 90, or 120 minutes. Pulping parameters that remained constant were the use of 0.5% ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), with an 80/20 ratio Na2SO3/NaOH, 0.1% anthraquinone, 15% methanol, and a temperature of 170 °C in the cooking process. Samples prepared using 14% NaOH and 90 min of cooking time resulted in the highest pulp yield, 52.4%, and a Kappa number of 18.1. It seems that 16% sodium hydroxide and 90 min of cooking time are the most appropriate cooking conditions, giving a 49.1% pulp yield and 14.2 Kappa number. The quality of bamboo pulp produced by the ASAM pulping process was found to be beneficial for the use in paper and board manufacturing.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the mechanical and optical properties of paper made from alkaline sulfite anthraquinone and methanol (ASAM) unbleached pulp from bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii). The bamboo pulps were beaten using a PFI mill at 10,000 revolutions. To determine the properties of unbleached bamboo ASAM paper, handsheets with a density of 60 g/m2 were formed with 14 to 18% NaOH, 80/20 Na2SO3/ NaOH, 0.1% AQ, 0.5% EDTA, and 15% methanol pulping conditions. Pulping at 18% NaOH for 120 min cooking time produced paper with properties of 24.8 Nm/g and 43.02% for the tensile index and ISO brightness, respectively. Cooking at 16% sodium hydroxide for 90 min rendered the best results for mechanical and optical properties, with results of 20.86 Nm/g, 22.64 mN.m2/g, and 39.32% ISO value for the tensile, tear indices, and brightness, respectively. High quality bamboo paper produced by the ASAM pulping process was beneficial for producing highly durable paper and paperboard.