ENERGY CHARACTERIZATION OF SUGAR CANE BAGASSE FROM TUCUMAN, ARGENTINE

ZAMORA RUEDA, G.; GOLATO, M. A.; MISTRETTA, M.G.; PAZ, D.; GUTIERREZ, C.E.; CARDENAS, G.J.

Tucuman

Congreso; XXX ISSCT Congress; 2019

Sociedad Argentina de Técnicos de la Caña de Azúcar SATCA

Energy characterization of sugarcane bagasse in Tucumán, ArgentinaG del H Zamora Rueda, MG Mistretta, CE Gutierrez, MA Golato, D Paz and GJ Cárdenas.Abstract. The most important waste product of the sugar-alcohol industry of Tucuman is sugarcane bagasse, which is used as the main fuel for the generation of thermal and electrical energy in the processes of sugar and alcohol manufacturing. Its use as fuel in steam boilers requires its continuous energy characterization, mainly due to the variability of the climatic conditions that affect the soil and crops, as well as the different cane cultivars and harvesting systems. The aim of this study was to characterize the energy content of the bagasse samples collected from sugar mills in Tucuman during the 2017 and at the beginning of the 2018 harvest. The methodologies used follow the standards: ASTMD 5142-02 (thermogravimetric), ASTMD 2015-96 (higher calorific value), ASTME 776-87 and ASTMD 3177-02 (chlorine and sulfur, respectively). The average results obtained were: moisture of 52.54% with coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.30%; ash 5.77% on dry basis (d.b.) with CV of 2,57%; volatile solids 77.21% (d.b.) with CV of 2,25%; fixed carbon 16.65% (d.b.) with CV of 5.00%; higher calorific value 17,584 kJ/kg (d.b.) with CV of 2.77%; chlorine 0.14% (d.b.) with CV of 2.10%; and sulfur 0.16% (d.b.) with CV of 2.47%. These parameters are useful for the calculation and re-designing the steam generator systems.Key words Bagasse characteristics, biomass, biofuel, energy, sugar industry