Deciphering the differential response of bamboo cell types to benzyl triethyl ammonium chloride/formic acid system...

Because bamboo grows rapidly and contains a large number of cellulose fibers, it has been proposed as an alternative source of natural fibers. However, the tight adhesion between fiber cells and parenchyma cells in bamboo makes it difficult to selectively separate them. In this study, bamboo sections were pretreated with deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of benzyltriethylammonium chloride/formic acid (BTEAC/FA), and laser confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and nanomechanical imaging techniques were combined to analyze the differential responses of the two cell types during the pretreatment process. The results indicated DES preferentially penetrated and disrupted the intercellular layers of parenchyma cells. Raman spectroscopy analysis found that lignin migrated to the secondary cell walls rather than being directly released when the high concentration of lignin in the intercellular layer of fiber cells was dissolved. Nano-mechanical imaging further confirmed that parenchymal cells exhibited more pronounced changes compared with fiber cells in elastic modulus and adhesion strength. These significant differences in spatial response to chemical degradation sensitivity and mechanical properties provided a theoretical basis for achieving cell-type-selective dissociation. This study elucidated the heterogeneous response mechanism of bamboo cell walls under DES treatment, laying a theoretical foundation for the development of low-energy and highly selective strategies for separating bamboo components.