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Bagasse

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**Bagasse Production and Description:**
– Bagasse is the solid by-product left after extracting liquids from plants.
– It consists of heterogeneous pith fiber, including parenchyma tissue, bast, rind, or stem fibers.
– Chemical analysis reveals components like cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, ash, and waxes.
Sugar factories generate approximately three tonnes of wet bagasse for every 10 tonnes of crushed sugarcane.
– Bagasse is challenging to use directly as fuel due to its high moisture content.

**Bagasse Utilization and Applications:**
– Research explores converting bagasse into bio-based materials and biofuels.
– Bagasse can be transformed into energy, materials, and fine chemicals.
– It is utilized for electricity generation, biochar production, biofuel production, and concrete applications.
– Bagasse contributes to reducing the carbon footprint through its various applications.

**Bagasse as Fuel Source:**
– Bagasse serves as the primary fuel source in sugar mills.
– It is used for cogeneration to sell extra energy to the electrical grid.
– Burning bagasse emits less CO2 than absorbed during sugarcane growth.
– Bagasse is used for ethanol production in countries like Brazil.

**Bagasse in Scientific Research and Industry:**
– Studies focus on permeability, compressibility, lignin recovery, and bioethanol production using bagasse.
– Bagasse is assessed for carbon footprint, technoeconomic viability, and environmental impact in various industries.
– It plays a key role in biofuel production and has potential applications in concrete and biochar production.

**Bagasse Applications in Materials Science and Historical Context:**
– Bagasse properties are studied in rubber nanocomposites, cellulose whiskers, and bioethanol production.
– Research explores the effects of bagasse on lung health, nutrient properties of oils, and dietary fiber benefits.
– Bagasse has historical significance in frozen food innovation, papermaking advancements, and its impact on fiber consumption and food labels.

Bagasse (Wikipedia)

Bagasse (/bəˈɡæs/ bə-GAS) is the dry pulpy fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane or sorghum stalks to extract their juice. It is used as a biofuel for the production of heat, energy, and electricity, and in the manufacture of pulp and building materials. Agave bagasse is similar, but is the material remnants after extracting blue agave sap.

Sugarcane bagasse in Hainan, China
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