Sugarcane Bagasse Fibers Research Articles

Development and characterisation of sugarcane bagasse nanocellulose/ PLA composites

ABSTRACT Nanocellulose from sugarcane bagasse fibres was isolated via chemo-mechanical method subjected to preparation of its PLA-based bionanocomposites using an Injection moulding process with varying weight percentages of nanocellulose. The mechanical properties (i.e. tensile, flexural, fracture toughness, and impact), thermal property (TGA analysis) and dynamic mechanical properties (i.e. storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping) of the prepared bionanocomposites were studied. In addition, water absorption behaviour in terms of maximum water uptake and sorption, diffusion and permeability coefficients of the bionanocomposites were also investigated. Anoticeable improvement in thermal stability, water resistance, and mechanical performance was seen in bionanocomposites with 2 wt. % of nanocellulose. There were 41.44%, 26.21%, 89.79%, and 16.38% improvements in tensile strength, flexural strength, fracture toughness and impact strength, respectively, for 2 wt. % of nanocellulose reinforcement composite over neat PLA matrix. ANOVA analysis was also performed and found that contents of nanocellulose have asignificant impact on the mechanical properties of the bionanocomposites.

Ecofriendly Bio-packing Based on Sugarcane Bagasse Fiber for Potential Application in Agroindustry

The concern about waste in the world is growing because of the significant environmental impact. Therefore, new alternatives are used, such as recycling, biodegradable polymer, agroindustry waste reuse, and many others. In this sense, this paper proposes a production of new bio-packing based on the waste production from agriculture (sugarcane bagasse) and the drinking industry (plastic bottles from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)) for agriculture products transportation. Then, this new material was characterized by thermal, chemical, morphological, mechanical, antifungal activity, and hydrophobic character to evaluate its characteristics to use as bio-packing. Following this purpose, all samples are characterized in nature and after production by scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR), surface angle contact, mechanical properties, and antifungal activity. The results indicated that the sample with 15% of bagasse presents the best mechanical properties. In addition, the presence of porosity can provide the material with low thermal conductivity. Moreover, the antifungal activity indicates that inhibition of fungus micellar growth was proportional to the decrease of bagasse in bio-packing. Then, which offers an innovative strategy for the use of waste in the production of environmentally friendly packing.

Environmental performance of bamboo fibers and sugarcane bagasse reinforced metakaolin-based geopolymers

Global warming and greenhouse gas emissions are significant concerns of the modern world. The cement industry causes 5–7% of CO2 gas emissions. Despite this critical environmental burden, cement is needed to develop future societies. Geopolymers are an alternative that has significantly fewer emissions than Ordinary Portland Cement. A geopolymer that considers the inclusion of natural fibers (bamboo and sugar cane bagasse) was developed. Two pre-treatments were considered for the fibers to remove lignin and starch. A life cycle assessment was performed on this geopolymer composite to evaluate its performance and compare the environmental impact of other options. The low liquid ammonia treated sugar cane bagasse fiber geopolymer had a better environmental performance with 857.9 kg CO2 eq per 1 m3 of pure binder (no aggregates). The other fiber alternatives had 2–4% more CO2 emissions. The geopolymer had excellent impact scores compared to different options and current OPC. The sensitivity analysis showed a concise and complete system that varies slightly when variables could provide uncertainty.

Tensile, thermal and ultra-violet shielding enhancement of poly(lactic acid) bionanocomposite film using cellulose nanocrystals extracted from sugarcane bagasse

Sugarcane bagasse fiber cellulose nanocrystals (SBFCNC) and microcrystalline cellulose-derived-cellulose nanocrystals (MCC-CNC) were extracted from sugarcane bagasse fiber (SBF; an agricultural waste) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), respectively. Both SBFCNC and MCC-CNC were synthesized using sulfuric acid hydrolysis followed by the freeze-drying method. Both MCC-CNC and SBFCNC show stable suspension in water with zeta potential values of – 40.5 mV and – 42.2 mV, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the SBFCNC has a higher aspect ratio (l/d = 65) compared to the MCC-CNC (l/d = 25). The poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites containing of MCC-CNC and SBFCNC was prepared using solvent casting method, and the films are highly amorphous as evidenced from the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study. The tensile strength of PLA/SBFCNC-10 is higher than that of PLA/MCC-CNC-10 films. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the thermal stability of PLA was improved significantly by the incorporation of MCC-CNC and SBFCNC. Poly(lactic acid)/SBFCNC-15 nanocomposites exhibited higher UV shielding properties (i.e., a UV blocking ratio of 0.63–0.66 in the UVA, UVB, and UVC regions) compared to PLA/MCC-CNC-15 nanocomposites (a UV blocking ratio in the range of 0.38–0.54). Sugarcane bagasse fiber cellulose nanocrystal is a potential biofiller that can provide good thermal stability and UV shielding properties for green bionanocomposites, which can give it an opportunity for food packaging applications.

Highly effective Candida rugosa lipase immobilization on renewable carriers: Integrated drying and immobilization process to improve enzyme performance

The overall stability of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) was improved via immobilization onto low-cost eco-friendly carriers (agroindustrial wastes) followed by using spouted bed dryer or spray dryer. Lipase covalently immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated rice husk proved the greatest performance, retaining 94.1% of the initial activity, followed by sugarcane bagasse (90.3%) and green coconut fiber (89.3%). On the other hand, the enzyme activity retention of CRL-lipase bioencapsulated in magnetic chitosan treated with glutaraldehyde or sodium tripolyphosphate ranged from 73.6% to 84.6%. The dried product moisture content, and water activities ranged from 4.1% and 6.5% and from 0.2 to 0.35, respectively. After storage for six months at 5 °C, the immobilized enzyme systems retained at least 70.0% of its initial activity (vs 18.3% retained activity for the free lipase). After ten reuse cycles, enzyme immobilized onto lignocellulosic carriers retained on average 72.7% of its initial activity. The thermostability of all immobilized derivatives was significantly improved and lipase immobilized onto rice husk showed a stabilization factor of 20.44 at 80 °C. The kinetic data showed that the CRL-lipase suffered alterations in catalytic behavior after the immobilization/drying, mainly a slight decrease in affinity to the substrate (↑KM). Among all the assessed immobilized lipase for aroma synthesis the rice husk immobilized lipase displayed the best result towards the production of isoamyl caprylate (62.40 g.L−1). In conclusion, this report reinforces the urgent need for the economic development of eco-sustainable immobilized biocatalysts to boost the use of enzymatic technology on industrial scale, and the feasibility of the association of immobilization and drying processes to improve the enzyme-quality features.

Study of the Mechanical Properties of Sugar Cane Fiber for Packaging Paper Based on Polyacrylamide and Natural Fibers

Natural fibers have been extensively studied as a reinforcement filler in obtaining composites, replacing partially synthetic fibers. The vast majority of these materials originate from agro-industrial waste with a high content of lignin and cellulose making it a very interesting material with low cost and good mechanical properties. The purpose of the study was to obtain a composite based on alkyl ketene dimer resin, for the manufacture of sustainable packaging, made of paper by adding a 10% (w/w) con-tent of green coconut fiber and sugarcane bagasse fiber, and evaluated the impact of the filler on the mechanical behavior of the systems. The studied material was characterized from mechanical tests, such as Ring Crush Test (RCT) and Concora Medium Test (CMT) evaluating the maximum resistance supported by centimeter in the pre-pared composites, by the specimens. Through the RCT tests, with 10% w/w fibers, it was possible to verify that the fiber from sugarcane bagasse reached an increase of about 1% in the reinforcement effect compared to pure paper, and a difference of up to 2% in strength mechanics in relation to coir fiber, and CMT tests shows the reinforcement effect of the presence of sugarcane bagasse fiber, with an increase of about 3% compared to pure paper, and with a mechanical strength higher by 1% compared to coconut fiber. Therefore, the study was funneled with sugar cane fiber, varying the content by 20 and 30 % (w/w), evaluating the impact on the dispersion of this filler in the polymeric matrix and, consequently, the mechanical response of the composite with these compositions. The conclusion of the study was that the system prepared with 20% (w/w) was the one that achieved the greatest optimization of the mechanical properties, evaluated by the tests. This type of material can be applied to obtain cardboard boxes with resistance to high loads, due to the achievement of good mechanical properties.

Hemicellulose and Nano/Microfibrils Improving the Pliability and Hydrophobic Properties of Cellulose Film by Interstitial Filling and Forming Micro/Nanostructure.

In this paper, nano/microfibrils were applied to enhance the mechanical and hydrophobic properties of the sugarcane bagasse fiber films. The successful preparation of nano/microfibrils was confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fiber length analyzer (FLA), and ion chromatography (IC). The transparency, morphology, mechanical and hydrophobic properties of the cellulose films were evaluated. The results show that the nanoparticle was formed by the hemicellulose diffusing on the surface of the cellulose and agglomerating in the film-forming process at 40 °C. The elastic modulus of the cellulose film was as high as 4140.60 MPa, and the water contact angle was increased to 113°. The micro/nanostructures were formed due to hemicellulose adsorption on nano/microfilament surfaces. The hydrophobicity of the films was improved. The directional crystallization of nano/microfibrous molecules was found. Cellulose films with a high elastic modulus and high elasticity were obtained. It provides theoretical support for the preparation of high-performance cellulose film.

Metal Matrix Composites Development and The Potential of Sugarcane Bagasse and Coir Fibre: A Review

Sugarcane bagasse (SB) and Coir fibre (CF) are two cellulose fibres/agricultural waste products found to constitute great environmental challenges, this has initiated a need to study them for probable potentialities as alternative use in the field of material science and engineering development apart from their localized usage. Consequently, this paper intends at reviewing these two agricultural waste material compositions characteristically to identify their potential development as renewable composite materials. Sugarcane bagasse has a chemical composition within the range of 88.13%, while Coir fibre varies from 25% - 76% of silica content depending on the type of treatment. This is a good quality material for composite production. The compatibility of these cellulose reinforcing agents and their adhesive matrix can be linked to their high cellulose, lignin, and other fibre contents and these can be explored in developing a multiphased system with different properties from the original components while retaining the qualities of the material among other potentials. These two agricultural by-products are good sources of fuel for electricity generation and agents of pozzolanic and polymerization with polypropylene for flame retardation. To conclude, therefore, SB and CF are decent resources for composites production and renewable energy, with excellent biodegradable characteristics consequently controlling environmental degradation.

Use Of Sugarcane Biomass In Brazil

Recently, the use of biomass energy has been growing worldwide on an accelerated trajectory, with the prospect of staying among the main renewable energy sources for the coming decades, along with wind and solar energy. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane on the planet and the second-largest producer of ethanol. But in addition to sugar, first-generation ethanol, and vinasse (for ferti-irrigation), other by-products and process residues from the plants (such as bagasse, filter cake, vinasse, straw, and sugarcane tip) can be used for the production of thermal and electric energies and also second-generation ethanol and biogas fuels. In this context, this paper presents the current scenario of sugarcane biomass in Brazil, discussing issues involving the use of sugar-alcohol by-products for bioenergy and biofuel production. Furthermore, a study on the reuse of sugarcane bagasse fibers for the production of eco-composite material is also presented. Finally, the concepts of biomass energy are described from a bibliographic survey and the previous experiences of the authors.

Stabilization of subgrade with expansive soil using agricultural and industrial By-products: A review

Expansive soils cover a large part of India and possess certain undesirable engineering properties such as low bearing capacity and large volumetric changes which causes severe damage to the pavements. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the geotechnical properties of expansive soils so that it becomes easier to construct pavement using these expansive soils. Agricultural and industrial byproduct such as rice husk ash, sugarcane bagasse ash, fly ash, plastic waste, coir pith and fiber, calcium carbide residue, cement kiln dust, silica fume and red mud etc. are found to be useful in pavement construction. Studies have reported that the strength of stabilized soils significantly improved with the use of various types of industrial and agricultural byproduct. If these waste materials are available locally for soil stabilization, it leads to the development of cost-effective and sustainable pavement construction. Further, utilization of these byproduct as a soil stabilizer also solve the problem of their disposal. As a result, the environmental problems caused by these byproducts from industrial and agricultural will be reduced. The research paper provides an overview of the utilization of different byproducts from industry and agriculture that have been used in soil stabilization as strengthening agents.

Modification of Sugarcane Bagasse Fibres for Application in Cementitious Composites: A Statistical Approach to Mechanical and Physical Properties

Modification of Sugarcane Bagasse Fibres for Application in Cementitious Composites: A Statistical Approach to Mechanical and Physical Properties

Effects of sugarcane bagasse fibers on the properties of compressed and stabilized earth blocks

This paper investigates the effects of sugarcane bagasse fibers (SCBFs) on the mechanical strength and durability properties of compressed and stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs). CSEBs were fabricated using natural soil and SCBFs, collected from Lakeland, LA, with a manually operated compression machine. Nine different soil mix compositions containing different amounts of SCBFs (0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% by weight) and Type II Portland cement (0%, 6%, and 12% by weight) were considered. The flexural, dry compressive, and wet compressive strengths of the different CSEBs were evaluated experimentally. Durability was also examined by measuring mass loss, dry density, water absorption, and wet compressive strength after 12 wetting/drying cycles. The morphology and chemical composition of the CSEBs were investigated via scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, whereas the mineralogical characteristics were evaluated using X-ray crystallography. The results show that including 0.5% to 1.0% by weight of SCBFs in CSEBs stabilized with 12% by weight of cement can significantly improve the CSEB mechanical properties without compromising their durability properties.

Mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of sugarcane Bagasse fiber reinforced Low Density Polyethylene composites

In the recent decade, there has been an increase in global warming, environmental changes, and other issues. Environmentally friendly products, such as natural composite materials, are being developed by researchers and academics to protect life on the planet. The purpose of this research is to see if cellulose and cellulignin fibres obtained from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) waste may be used as reinforcing filler in a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The injection method was used to create the low density polyethylene (LDPE) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) composites. Fiber loading was set to be varied from 10 to 30 wt%. To improve interfacial bonding, the fibres were chemically modified using an alkali treatment, and the effects on the fiber/matrix interaction were evaluated using scanning electron micrographs (SEM). Tensile, impact, and hardness were used to determine the mechanical properties and corrosion tests. The findings revealed that sugarcane bagasse fibers, like other natural fibers, strengthen polyethylene. It has been found that the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the treated SCB fibers have been improved significantly by about 13% and 196%, respectively, compared to neat LDPE. This was due to the observed enhancement in the interfacial adhesion between the fiber and matrix. The impact resistance and hardness of the composite enhanced by 55.28% and 26%, respectively, over neat LDPE. According to SEM analysis, the alkali treatment affected the morphology of fibers.

Endoglucanase production by trichoderma reesei cultivated in solid state fermentation using lignocellulosic waste / Utilização de resíduos lignocelulósicos para a produção de endoglucanases por trichoderma reesei cultivado sob fermentação em estado sólido

Trichoderma reesei is a fungus that has been widely explored for its potential as cellulolytic enzyme producer and has diverse industrial applications. However, obtaining the enzymes is still considered a costly and, sometimes, inefficient process. This study aimed to produce endoglucanases by cultivating T. reesei (CCT-2768) in solid state fermentation, using cashew apple bagasse (CAB), sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and green coconut fiber (GCF) residues as substrates. The influence of moisture and pH on enzyme production was evaluated using a factorial design. T. reesei showed viability for producing endoglucanases in all of the three lignocellulosic residues tested, with maximum activity (2.29 ± 0.01 U/g) observed when cultivated in the SCB substrate and using moisture of 60% and pH 5.5. Thus, use of lignocellulosic residues proves to be a viable alternative for producing endoglucanases by cultivation of Trichoderma reesei, which contributes to the recycling of waste and the reduction of environmental impacts.

Application of Different Vegetable Fibers as Natural Sorbents and Their Use in Water Decontamination from Crude Oil

AbstractThe petroleum sorption capacities of plant fibers from Eucalyptus sp., Bambusa tuldoides, and sugarcane bagasse fibers were investigated as innovative and low‐cost alternatives from renewable sources. Characterization of the fibers was performed according to their morphological aspects and physicochemical characteristics. The oil used was classified according to its American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity, viscosity, and density. Sorption tests performed with crude oil mixed with deionized water in a static or agitated system revealed maximum sorption capacities of the fibers in the range of 5.08–5.87 g g−1. The biosorbent based on eucalyptus fibers is a promising material for the cleaning of oil spills in water bodies as it is the most hydrophobic material. Sugarcane bagasse and bamboo gave good results for oil sorption applications in the absence of water, validating their use as well.

Valorization of Sugarcane Bagasse to Sulfur Containing Graphene: Chemistry and Mechanism

ABSTRACT It is well established that natural occurring carbonaceous materials play a key role in the development of graphene derivatives. In this context, sugarcane bagasse fibers were explored for the development of sulfur-containing graphene (S-graphene) in the presence of sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), bypassing inert atmosphere. The cellulose and hemicellulose contents of bagasse fibers were found to be crucial for the formation of few layered nanosheets of graphene. The results showed that NaHSO3 not only facilitated the insertion of sulfur within the graphitic planes, but also prevented the attack of oxygen at low temperatures during cyclization and aromatization of glucose moieties present in the bagasse fibers. It indicated that bagasse fibers could be one of the versatile carbonaceous precursors to produce graphene and its derivatives.

Performance of laterite-based geopolymers reinforced with sugarcane bagasse fibers

In this study, sugarcane bagasse fibres (SBF) were used as a sustainable alternative to reinforce laterite-based geopolymers. As geopolymers can be deemed an eco-friendly construction material, the sustainability of geopolymers can be further improved with the use of SBF which is an agricultural by-product as reinforcement. In addition, the use of natural fibres has been known to improve insulation properties resulting in more energy conservation when such materials reinforced with natural fibres are used for the construction of building elements. Thus, the influence of SBF at various dosages (i.e. 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, 6% and 7.5%) on the properties of laterite-based geopolymer was evaluated in this study. The outcome of this study indicated that incorporating SBF into the laterite-based geopolymers resulted in a decrease in density and increase in the sonic rate which is beneficial to the acoustic and thermal insulation enhancement. In addition, it was found out that the use of SBF at a dosage of 3% improved the resistance of the geopolymers to wet-dry cycles. However, the presence of SBF in the geopolymers resulted in a decrease in the compressive strength and an increase in the permeability properties with higher content of SBF.

Evaluation of mechanical performance and water absorption properties of modified sugarcane bagasse high-density polyethylene plastic bag green composites

Enormous amounts of plastic wastes are generated worldwide and the approaches related to plastic recycling or reusing have become the research focus in the field of composite materials. In this study, green composites were prepared via melt-blending method using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sourced from plastic bags as a matrix and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) fiber as reinforcing filler. The effects of fiber loading (5, 10 and 15 wt%) and fiber modification on the mechanical and dimensional stability (weight gain by water absorption) properties of the green composites were investigated. Results showed that the inclusion of SCB fiber into recycled HDPE matrix increased the composite stiffness but decreased the mechanical strength and resistance to water absorption. With the fiber modification through alkali treatment, the mechanical strength was remarkably improved, and the modulus and water absorption of the composites were found to be reduced. From the finding, it can be concluded that the prepared green composites free of coupling agent could add value to the plastic and agricultural wastes, and serve a potential candidate to replace some conventional petroleum-based composites.

Effect of the incorporation of sugarcane bagasse fibers in asphalt mixture dosed by the Superpave method

Sugar industry waste bagasse contains many natural fiber materials, and the application of natural fibers in asphalt mixes such as SMA (Stone Matrix Asphalt) has become an attractive alternative for the construction of flexible pavements. This study aims to evaluate the mechanical performance of an asphalt mixture modified by incorporating 0.3% sugarcane bagasse fiber and with a size of 20 mm. The asphalt binder was submitted to penetration, softening point, and rotational viscosity tests to carry out this research, and the aggregates were characterized by specific mass, particle size, and absorption tests. Furthermore, the Superpave dosage was performed to produce the specimens to be evaluated in the splitting tensile strength test, resilient modulus, Marshall stability, and draindown sensitivity. As a result, the modified asphalt mixture presented a better performance in all evaluated strength tests and the leakage content within the standard specifications. Therefore, according to this, re-search, sugarcane bagasse fibers proved to be a viable alternative for SMA-type mixtures. Thus, the application of this material in asphalt paving and improving some essential characteristics can significantly reduce the environmental impacts generated by the inadequate disposal of these residues by sugar mills.

Acoustic Performance Evaluation of Sugarcane Bagasse Using Ambient Sound Meter and Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract: Non-stop research is afoot to replace synthetic materials with green-materials for sound absorption purposes. Employing of agricultural waste as building materials has been a successful trend throughout the years. This research targets to utilize sugarcane bagasse (SB) fibers as sound barriers with sodium silicate as an adhesive. The SB fibers were treated in an alkaline solution for delignification and to improve the surface morphology. The SB fibers were casted into sheet and further tested for sound transmission loss. Experimentation revealed that the fabricated sheets can be viable option as a sound absorbing medium. A tubular porous structure was observed through Field Emission Scanning Microscope (FESEM). It has the capability to be used as a low-cost, biodegradable, and eco-friendly acoustic material as compared to glass wool and other synthetic acoustic materials. Keywords: Acoustic material, Alkali-treatment, Ambience, FESEM microscopy, Low-cost, Natural fiber, Performance, Sugarcane Bagasse, Sustainability