Abstract
Sugarcane bagasse is a vast lignocellulosic byproduct generated in the industry with ~50% humidity (1 kg dry matter associated with 1 kg water). Although the presence of water brings deleterious consequences for combustion, storage and sugar extraction, the location of water in fresh bagasse remains unknown. In this work, we use synchrotron X-ray microtomography for non-invasive 3D imaging of fresh bagasse particles, which allows the visualization of intraparticle water. The sclerified fiber cells in the sheaths surrounding xylem vessels are often found full of water. We suggest this can be juice preserved from the native stalks as many sclerified fibers seem to keep their structural integrity despite the mechanical action during sugarcane crushing. The microtomograms of fresh bagasse also shows mineral particles adhered to biomass surfaces, with adhesion presumably favored by the presence of water. In summary, this work unveils the location of water in fresh bagasse, solving an old mystery of sugarcane technology.
Highlights
Sugarcane is produced in many tropical and subtropical countries around the world, with global annual production of 1.9 billion metric tons [1]
A total of 23 particles of fresh bagasse were successfully imaged, counting 8 particles classified as rind, 13 as pith, and 2 of undetermined tissue type
The main types of fibrous particles and their typical features are represented in the image set and, they can provide the insights about water location in fresh sugarcane bagasse
Summary
Sugarcane is produced in many tropical and subtropical countries around the world, with global annual production of 1.9 billion metric tons [1]. About 12–14% of this mass (250 million metric tons) corresponds to the lignocellulosic matter in the sugarcane stalks, which is transformed in bagasse after the stalks are crushed to extract the juice [2]. Considering the above numbers and a lower heating value of 17 MJ/kg for dry bagasse, this agricultural residue could hypothetically supply 4 EJ of energy per year. This would correspond to a share of 6% in the global supply of bioenergy of 63 EJ [3]. Bagasse comes out of the process with ~50% humidity (wet basis) [4,5], meaning that 1 kg dry matter is impregnated with about 1 kg water. Considering the long tradition of the sugarcane technology, the location of water in fresh bagasse remains unknown
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