MA Golato1, N Kamiya1, M Ruíz1 and AM Avila2
1Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres (EEAOC) – Tucumán, Argentina; mgolato@eeaoc.org.ar
2INQUINOA, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, CONICET, DIPyGI-FACET-UNT, Av. Independencia 1800, C.P. 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
This study explores a sustainable approach to mitigate the ongoing energy crisis and reducing fossil fuel dependency by focusing on biomass gasification and pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse. The thermal degradation behavior of sugarcane bagasse was analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), incorporating pure commercial compounds (Na₂O, MgO, CaO, KH₂PO₄) and dried vinasse (CzVz), a byproduct of ethanol distillation. Samples were fortified at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15%, revealing significant effects on volatile mass production and thermal decomposition. CaO and MgO slightly increased volatile matter, Na₂O peaked at 10%, and KH₂PO₄ controlled lignin degradation (>700°C). CzVz improved volatile matter at all evaluated concentrations and reduced mass loss during hemicellulose and cellulose decomposition stages. These results indicate that CzVz, derived from sugarcane vinasse, may enhance biomass combustion and gasification, and thus offering a pathway toward more sustainable sugarcane industrialization.