Proc ACUN-5 “Developments in Composites: Advanced, Infrastructural, Natural, and Nano-Composites”,UNSW, Sydney, Australia; 11-14 July 2006 Eds: Sri Bandyopadhyay et al., ISBN 0 7334 2363 9 Sugar Cane Bagasse Fibre for Sustainable Manufacturing: An Overview of Applications Li Shu 1 , Christopher C. Berndt 1 and Alma Hodzic 2 1 School of Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, England, UK Christopher.Berndt@jcu.edu.au Abstract Processing sugar cane generally produces one third of matted cellulose fibre residue known as bagasse, which may be used as an alternative natural resource for sustainable energy production. This paper evaluates current uses of bagasse, with the intention of presenting a broad background of bagasse fibre utilisation; its basic characteristics and properties; and a vision on further pathways whereby its use can be most realised. Keywords: Bagasse, biodegradable plastics, cellular concrete, cellulose 1. Introduction In general terms, sugar cane is cleaned, crushed and milled to obtain juice. The juice is heated, clarified and filtered to separate sucrose. The syrup is further condensed by evaporation and then crystallised to produce sugar, which is then separated from the syrup. The crushed sugar cane is called “bagasse” and consists of a cellulose fibre residue. Large quantities of sugar cane are produced in Brazil, India, China, Thailand and Australia 1 . For example, 338 sugar factories in India crush 60×10 6 tonnes of sugar cane to produce 6.1×10 6 tonnes of sugar. In this process, 18 million tonnes of bagasse is also produced. 2 Bagasse has numerous applications, some of which are shown in Fig. 1 3 Since bagasse has a calorific value between 3,000 to 4,000 Btu per pound on a wet, as-fired basis; it has been used as fuel for the boilers in sugar mills. The moisture content of bagasse is between 45 and 55 per cent by weight. Since the sulphur and nitrogen contents in the bagasse are low, the emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) from the boilers are lower than the boilers that use conventional fossil fuels. However, the auxiliary fuels used to support the combustion of bagasse (with high moisture content) increase the emission of SO 2 and NO x . Improper combustion conditions increase the emission of carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Apart from such environmentally-sensitive emissions; emission of carbon dioxide, an important gas that contributes to greenhouse effects, could be 1,560 lb/ton (780 kg/Mg) for the bagasse that is fired. 4 The CO 2 emission may increase if a wet scrubber is used; since CO 2 –generating reagents are often used. Therefore, to reduce the emission of green house gases it is preferable that the bagasse fuel should not be used in conjunction with other fuels that will emit CO 2 . In such circumstances other applications of bagasse, as suggested in this report, should take precedence when appropriate. Figure 1. Some applications of bagasse fibre 1 . 248