The sugarcane byproducts to a food security in an ecofriendly way: A review

This article addresses, in an integrated way, the main aspects of the by-products obtained from sugarcane processing summarizing their most important and economic characteristics, their composition, and most relevant uses as options for industrial diversification, all taken as a review.

Identification of Microbial Populations in Blends of Worm Castings or Sugarcane Filter Mud Compost with Biochar

Soil amendments are used to improve soil quality, thereby enhancing plant growth and health. Efforts have been made to replace synthetic chemical enhancers. It is also preferable to not use natural products such as peat moss, the harvesting of which can be harmful to marine ecosystems. Viable replacements include worm castings, which can contribute beneficial microbes, as well as physicochemical amendments. Another potential soil amendment is the compost produced from sugarcane processing byproducts. While the texture of these two materials is not ideal for even dispersal onto fields, the addition of biochar improves the texture. Previous work demonstrated that blending them with biochar from sugarcane byproducts added physicochemical benefits, while not quantitatively reducing the microbial load, even after storage. Microbial populations of the blends in the present study were found to (1) contain taxonomic groups that contribute to plant health and (2) not contain human pathogens. Based on the quantitative and qualitative microbial analyses, it has been determined that 50% or less biochar in a blend will allow maintenance of beneficial microbes in stored samples.

The SMRI-NIRS technology Part 2: Improving factory performance

The Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI) has developed a Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) analytical method for use in sugarcane factories, initially for use in South Africa, in place of conventional analytical methods. Details on the development, validation and benefit of the SMRI-NIRS analytical method are reported in Part 1 of this paper (Walford 2019). By 2019 all South African sugarcane processing factories had discontinued conventional analyses in favour of the SMRI-NIRS method for factory control purposes. The SMRI-NIRS method predicts analytical results of dry solids, polarimetric sugar, sucrose (HPLC), glucose, fructose, conductivity ash contents as well as ICUMSA colour and pH value from a single NIRS scan of any suitably diluted sugarcane process stream sample. Final molasses dry solids can also be predicted. In addition to improved laboratory output, the additional analytical data can be used to improve factory performance. This paper gives examples of where the SMRI-NIRS technology, the analytical method and the associated decision-support toolkits, have been used in South African factories, to improve factory sucrose recoveries and the reporting of factory performance figures.

Impact of tops and green leaves on sugarcane processing: laboratory testing

In Réunion, changes in harvesting practices have led to increased amounts of sugarcane tops and leaves delivered to factories. To anticipate the changes in sugar recovery processing, laboratory trials were undertaken. Samples with known quantities of tops or green leaves were prepared and cane processing was simulated at laboratory scale: juice extraction, clarification and evaporation with operating parameters similar to those in the factory. Juice and syrup were collected and analyzed for sugar quality parameters, as well as parameters that impact sugar recovery or processing quality: ash and reducing sugars contents were monitored to estimate the sucrose loss to molasses, while calcium, phosphate and oxalate contents were monitored to evaluate the risk of fouling in evaporator. Results highlight a degradation of juice composition with increasing quantities of tops and leaves, an increase in lime consumption, and color. An increase in residual calcium in syrup was observed thus increasing the risk of evaporator fouling. The mixed juice, clear juice and syrup qualities declined in the same proportion and the composition of the juice did not get worse with juice treatment.

Sugarcane Wax - A Par Excellent by-Product of Sugar Industry - A Review

Sugarcane is one of the major cash crops, used for the production of sugar and ethanol. Sugarcane processing, results in many by by-products like bagasse, molasses and press mud which have economic value. Also, the by-products serve to generate many value added products. Sugarcane wax is a value added product obtained by the processing of press mud. It has pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications. n-Triacontanol, Policosanol, D-003 acids and waxes are some of the products derived from the sugarcane wax. This article attempt discusses the various methods of extraction of sugarcane wax, its constituents and its characteristics and applications of the products derived from the sugarcane wax.