Isabel M Lima, Jean A Beacorn, Evan C Terrel and Gillian O Bruni
USDA-ARS Southern Regional Research Center, Commodity Utilization Research Unit, 1100 Allen Toussaint Blvd, New Orleans, LA, 70124, USA; Isabel.Lima@usda.gov
Solutions are needed for the utilization of both sugarcane bagasse and field residue as the largest sources by volume of fibrous co-products generated from harvesting and processing sugarcane. Successful conversion of these co-products into value-added materials requires full understanding of their properties and how they are affected by source, processing conditions and storage. Bagasse samples and field residue samples were sourced from Florida and Louisiana (USA) factories and cane fields. A series of biochars was produced from all by-products, at pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 350 to 800°C. Both feedstock materials and respective biochars were fully characterized and compared for their resulting properties. Biochar carbon (C) and ash content were directly related to the amounts present in the original feedstock. Increasing pyrolysis temperature (PT) decreased biochar yield (from 60 to 30%), but increased surface area (up to 450 m2/g for 80°C) and %C (from 65.1 to 89.1%) for burnt bagasse biochar, properties that are typically desirable in these type materials, regardless of application.