Sugarcane fibres

Pentoses contained in hemicellulose are used to produce furfural, a useful industrial chemical, used as a solvent for resins and waxes and in petrochemical refining. It is also used as a feedstock for a range of aromatic substances (it has an almond odour) including preservatives, disinfectants and herbicides. Furfural can be converted to furfuryl alcohol and used to make resins for composite applications with fibreglass and other fibres. These are of interest in the aircraft component and automotive brake sectors. Furfural is commercially derived from acid hydrolysis of waste agricultural by-products, such as sugarcane bagasse, com cobs and cereal brans. Around 450 000 tonnes is produced by this method per year. 

Guimaraesa JL, Frollini E, da Silva CG, Wypychc F, Satyanarayanac KG et al (2009) Characterization of banana, sugarcane bagasse and sponge gourd fibres of Brazil. Ind Crop Prod 30 407-415... 

Other plants with fibres applicable for reinforcement are sugarcane bagasse, akwara, elephant grass, water reed, plantain and musamba (Aziz et al. 1981). 

Mali, S., Debiagi, F., Grossmann, M. V. E., and Yamashita, F. 2010. Starch, sugarcane bagasse fibre and polyvinyl alcohol effects on extruded foam properties A mixture design approach. Industrial Crops and Products 32 353-359. 

Sanjuan, R., Anzaldo, V., Vargas, J., et al., 2001. Morphological and chemical composition of pith and fibres from Mexican sugarcane bagasse. Holz als Roh-und Werkstoff 59, 447-450. 

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