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 BAGASSE:
VALUABLE RESIDUE
Bagasse is the residue obtained from
crushing cane in the mills. It contains 50% moisture & 2%
sugar & the balance is fibre. Bagasse is used as a raw
material by the paper industry. It is also very commonly
used as fuel in boilers in the sugar factory for
co-generation of power. Bagasse & wood fibre are made into
building boards by a process analogous to paper making.
Whereas bagasse is primarily used to meet the captive
requirement of fuel, a substantial quantity of it can be
saved and diverted for use in other industries. Inside a
sugar plant, bagasse is generally used as a combustible in
furnaces to produce steam, which in turn is used to generate
power. The composition and quality of bagasse varies based
on the variety of sugarcane, maturity of cane, method of
harvesting and the efficiency of the sugar mill.
By making use of bagasse sugar mills have been successful in
reducing dependence on State Electric Boards, for their
power supply as it can procure up to 90-95% of its total
power requirement through captive generation from steam
turbines. However, Dwarikesh has achieved a distinction in
this field as it generates enough power to meet its internal
demand as well as to sell it to the State power grid. The
company is also planning to set up a paper plant for the
optimum utilization of its by-product "bagasse".
Pressmud:
Press mud is commonly known as filter cake and is used as
manure by the farmers. It is combustible and also used in
brick kilns for brick making. When mixed with the spent wash
generated by the distilleries, the resultant product is
enriched organic manure, which has the capability to improve
yields in farms. It also mitigates the need to treat the
distillery effluent, which is very toxic and is high on BOD
and COD content.
Fly ash:
Fly Ash is the residual output from the boiler furnace after
bagasse has completely burnt out. This fly ash is used as a
substitute for firewood. It is rich in potassium and is also
used by local farmers for cultivation. |
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