2.2. Chemical and morphological characterizations
The chemical characterizations of rice straw fibers were carried out following the appropriate Tappi Test Methods and the other published procedures as indicated. The samples were subjected to the following determinations: holocellulose (T 249 om-88), α-cellulose (T 203 cm-99), Klason lignin (T 222 om-88), hot-water solubility (T 207 cm-88), ash (T 211 om-88) and sugars (T 249 cm-00). Table 1 shows the mean and standard deviations of three replicate determinations.