Sugarcane By-products Research Articles

Aspects of Occupational Health in the Sugar Cane Industry

Workers in developing countries face as many, if not more, work-related health problems as their counterparts in industrialized nations. This paper concentrates on occupational health problems in the sugar industry, which exists in 40 countries, mostly in the Third World. Sugar cane workers have a high level of occupational accidents and are exposed to the high toxicity of pesticides. They may also have an increased risk of lung cancer, possibly mesothelioma. This may be related to the practice of burning foliage at the time of cane-cutting. Bagassosis is also a problem specific to the industry as it may follow exposure to bagasse (a by-product of sugar cane). The workers may also be affected by chronic infections which reduce their productivity. The legal framework for their protection is often inadequate. In conclusion, areas of future research are suggested.

Flue Gas Drying of Bagasse

Technical data on commercial systems using boiler flue gas to dry bagasse, the fibrous byproduct of milled sugarcane that fuels sugar factory boilers, will be presented in this article. The results of this study are based primarily on four systems installed in Hawaii during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Even though the temperatures of the flue gases available for bagasse drying in Hawaiian sugar factories are generally much lower than in factories elsewhere, the improvements in boiler efficiencies in Hawaii due to flue gas bagasse drying were found to be roughly 5 percentage points which is substantial. The heat loss from the dryer system and the related ducting was generally found to be minimal, = 0.5% of the heating value of the bagasse fuel. Carbon monoxide concentration (and the associated loss) was significantly lower and boiler stack emissions and opacity usually improved substantially when the bagasse was dried prior to being burned in the boiler.

Protein enrichment of sugar cane by-products using solid-state cultures of Aspergillus terreus

Solid state cultures of Aspergillus terreus were carried out at different temperatures using sugar cane trash blended with salts and diluted molasses. A phase of respiration related to spore germination was observed. The effect of temperature on mold growth was evaluated in terms of lag phase, μmax and Xmax values. The germination phase was more sensitive to temperature changes than the apical growth phase. Satisfactory protein content (9–10% dry matter) and protein yield (23% of spent sugars) were observed when the temperature was regulated within a medium range (25–35°C). Preliminary data for sealing-up studies regarding temperature distribution and CO 2 evolution are presented.

Effects of Level and Form of Sugar-Cane by-Products Supplemented with Urea on Performance of Sudan Desert Sheep

Effects of Level and Form of Sugar-Cane by-Products Supplemented with Urea on Performance of Sudan Desert Sheep

6.6 Intensive beef production in Zimbabwe, based on sugar cane by-products

Animal feeds based on sugar cane by-products play a major part in intensive beef production in Zimbabwe. Molasses and bagasse are widely used in factory-produced diets for complete and full feeding of slaughter cattle in confinement and also in concentrates for supplementary feeding on pasture. Feed dry matter to carcass gain conversion ratios vary from 1:12.3 on diets containing 55% molasses and zero maize, to 1:10 on diets containing 14% molasses and 52% maize.

Gas chromatographic analysis of tebuthiuron and its metabolites in grass, sugarcane, and sugarcane by-products.

Gas chromatographic analysis of tebuthiuron and its metabolites in grass, sugarcane, and sugarcane by-products.

Evaluation of Cuban High Test Syrup in Chick Rations

IT HAS been reported that cane final molasses may be fed in chick starter rations at concentrations up to 34.5 percent; but optimum results, as determined by growth rate and cost of feed per pound of gain to 6 weeks of age, were obtained on levels of molasses ranging from 7.5 to 23.0 percent of total ration (Rosenberg, 1955). These conclusions were drawn from a study conducted with chicks reared on raised hardware cloth floors where the moisture of the droppings was of no consequence. However, it was noted that the moisture content of the feces increased as the concentration of molasses was raised, and it was suggested that this characteristic may be prejudicial to the commercial use of molasses at comparatively high levels despite its economic advantage.This investigation was undertaken to biologically assay Cuban produced “High Test” syrup, no comparable sugar cane by-product being available in Hawaii at…