title: Bamboo as a support material in anaerobic reactors.
abstract: The changes in 2.5-cm thick bamboo rings during their use as a support material in an anaerobic reactor show that the wash out and degradation processes are largely completed within 6 months to a year. The dry mass of the bamboo used decreased more quickly in the first half of the year than during the second half and asymptotically approached a loss limit of approximately 15% (w/w). The decrease in substances contained in the bamboo during the 2-year experimental period led to reductions in wall thickness of the rings of 0.8 mm and in the absorbable pressure of 21%. Bamboo thus appears to be suitable for long-term use in an anaerobic reactor.
authors.affiliation: Federal Research Centre of Agriculture, Institute of Technology, Bundesallee 50, D-W-3300, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Tritt
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zadrazil
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Menge-Hartmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwarz