Sugar Industry: A Hub of Useful Bio-Based Chemicals

Abstract

Sugarcane, a C4 crop, is an excellent source of biomass conversion of solar energy. In addition to sugar, sugarcane is a great source of fibre, fodder, fuel and many chemicals. Sugarcane could synthesize and store a vast number of useful compounds. The chemicals are sucrose, glucose, fructose, polysaccharides, acids, alcohols, wax, etc., which could be commercially obtained from this crop. In addition to the extraction of sucrose, the by-products, such as bagasse, molasses, press mud or filter cake, provide sufficient opportunities for value-added products such as bioenergy, chemicals, medicines, pesticides, etc., through microbial fermentation, extraction and physico-chemical transformation. The by-products (bagasse, molasses, press mud) obtained from sugarcane processing are rich source of several chemicals. Exploring these bio-based chemicals out of sugarcane by-products may not only convert the waste material into useful products but also generate employment opportunity, especially in rural areas, making sugarcane cultivation more profitable and sustainable. Sugarcane-derived bio-based chemicals have a huge potential and much needed by the society in the coming years. As a result, sugar mills are required to be converted into sustainable biorefineries that may fully exploit the potential of sugarcane.