Targeting a sustainable sugar crops processing industry: A review (Part II): Reuse and conversion technologies

Authors: Lima, Isabel; Beacorn, Jean

Submitted to: Sugar Tech
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2022
Publication Date: 6/21/2022
Citation: Lima, I.M., Beacorn, J.A. 2022. Targeting a sustainable sugar crops processing industry: A review (Part II): Reuse and conversion technologies. Sugar Tech. 24(4):1010-1028. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-022-01180-w.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-022-01180-w

Interpretive Summary: Sustainability of the sugar crops harvesting, and processing industry is tightly associated with valorization of its by-products via conversion into beneficial bioproducts, biomaterials, biochemicals and biofuels, with potential in agricultural, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Sugar crops are versatile in that they include a rich sugar fraction (simple sugars, mainly sucrose, but also glucose and fructose) in addition to fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin). By-products such as green leaves and tops, can be used for fodder; bagasse and molasses for fuel and chemicals; and press mud as fertilizer, and these encompass just a few examples of a myriad of applications. A detailed review of the state-of-the-art value-added conversion technologies for these by-products are described in detail herein. Some technologies generate multiple co-products simultaneously, making the conversion more economically attractive and competitive towards traditional materials. There is also the opportunity for the creation of new jobs and markets for the dissemination of these products. In the first of two manuscripts, production of these by-products is detailed together with their specific physico-chemical properties and the ways in which they can be utilized beneficially and sustainably. This review represents the second manuscript where state of the art value-added conversion technologies for these by-products are described in detail.

Technical Abstract: Sustainability of the sugar crops harvesting, and processing industry is tightly associated with valorization of its by-products via conversion into beneficial bioproducts, biomaterials, biochemicals and biofuels, with potential in agricultural, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Sugar crops are versatile in that they include a rich sugar fraction (simple sugars, mainly sucrose, but also glucose and fructose) in addition to fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin). By-products such as green leaves and tops, can be used for fodder; bagasse and molasses for fuel and chemicals; and press mud as fertilizer, and these encompass just a few examples of a myriad of applications. A detailed review of the state-of-the-art value-added conversion technologies for these by-products are described in detail herein. Some technologies generate multiple co-products simultaneously, making the conversion more economically attractive and competitive towards traditional materials. There is also the opportunity for the creation of new jobs and markets for the dissemination of these products. In the first of two manuscripts, production of these by-products is detailed together with their specific physico-chemical properties and the ways in which they can be utilized beneficially and sustainably. This review represents the second manuscript where state of the art value-added conversion technologies for these by-products are described in detail.