Sugar cane plant fibres: Separation and characterisation

Sugar cane is a potential source of large amounts of natural fibres which has not yet been adequately exploited. A simple physical method was devised to separate the fibres and the fines/pith from various locations in the plant to yield nine components. The yield of fibres obtained was greatest from the leaves. The fibre/pith ratios of four cane varieties investigated indicated good millability. All the components, except stalk pith, were morphologically similar and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the lignocellulosic nature of the material. The four components that arise from the cane, namely, rind fibre, rind fines, stalk fibre and stalk pith, showed clear trends in the crystallinity index, combustion temperatures, amount of residue after pyrolysis, percentage carbon content and gross calorific value. The fibres from the leaves and tops did not exhibit clear trends. The information gleaned from this study can be used to select appropriate end-uses for these different fibres.

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► Fibres from nine locations of the sugar cane plant were separated and characterised.
► The components arising from the stalk show clear trends in their properties.
► Rind fibres show enhanced properties such as crystallinity and thermal stability.
► Fibres show enhanced properties compared with the fines from the same location.
► This work forms the basis for further exploitation of these fibres.