Applications, life cycle assessment, and circular economy of bamboo torrefaction for sustainability: A state-of-the-art review

Wei-Hsin Chen; Pin-Chun Liang; Wei-Yi Wang; Pen-Chi Chiang; Jiří Ryšavý; Jakub Čespiva; Jo-Shu Chang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132629

Applications, life cycle assessment, and circular economy of bamboo torrefaction for sustainability: A state-of-the-art review

Bioresour Technol. 2025 Sep:431:132629. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132629. Epub 2025 May 6.

Authors

Wei-Hsin Chen¹, Pin-Chun Liang², Wei-Yi Wang³, Pen-Chi Chiang⁴, Jiří Ryšavý⁵, Jakub Čespiva⁵, Jo-Shu Chang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411, Taiwan. Electronic address: weihsinchen@gmail.com.
² Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
³ International Business, College of Management, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
⁴ Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
⁵ Energy Research Centre, Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
⁶ Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taiwan.

PMID: 40339997
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132629

Abstract

This review comprehensively explores the characteristics and applications of torrefied bamboo. Bamboo has a high volatile matter (VM) content (73.9-93.0 %), which results in substantial liquid byproducts during torrefaction. The higher heating value (HHV) of biochar produced from wet torrefaction (WT) is greater than that made from dry torrefaction (DT). When the torrefaction severity factor is 8.7, the bamboo hydrochar's HHV from WT can achieve 29.3 MJ⋅kg^-1, whereas bamboo biochar from DT only have 23.3 MJ⋅kg^-1. Bamboo vinegar and tar, byproducts from bamboo torrefaction, are effective biopesticides and have diverse applications, including polyurethane coatings and insecticides. Life cycle assessments reveal that bamboo-based building materials can reduce carbon footprints by 46.2 % to 87.6 % compared to traditional construction materials. Furthermore, bamboo materials are highly beneficial for the circular economy and environmental sustainability. In summary, bamboo biochar's applications are extensive, and its derived products are commercially competitive and environmentally friendly.

Keywords: Bamboo biochar and hydrochar; Circular economy; Sustainability; Torrefaction; Vinegar and tar; Waste valorization.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Charcoal / chemistry
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Construction Materials
Sasa* / chemistry

Substances

Charcoal
biochar