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90% of SA sugar cane is burnt in the field!
Green Cane Harvesting
The CHIMERA concept involves topping the cane and harvesting it with the trash left on the stalks (preferably whole stick). The tops are left in the field where they conserve the fertility by returning organic matter to the soil. The harvested cane is transported to the mill with the trash adhering.
CHIMERA is a process, typically installed at a cane sugar mill’s intake, which receives unburnt sugar cane. It uses a propriatory process technique to remove the trash in order to harnesses its energy for use in the sugar mill and/or for conversion into export electricity.
CHIMERA therefore releases cellulosic feedstock for biobased chemicals (furfural!) or additional energy production!
CHIMERA provides exceptional economic and environmental benefits.
In-Field Cane Burning
While cane transport and sugar extraction are made more efficient by burning the cane in the field, there are a number of negative effects of this practice. The main ones are:
- It causes widespread air pollution and smuts fallout.
- It is a waste of significant amounts of renewable energy.
- Burnt cane deteriorates much faster after cutting than unburnt cane, resulting in reduced sugar extraction and the generation of highly undesirable chemical products (such as dextran) which make sugar processing problematic.
- The fertility of the soil declines because of the impact that the fires have on reducing the natural microbial flora of the soil which give the soil its health.
- Cane burning contributes to global warming due to the release of large quantities of CO2.
- Burning contributes to wind and flood water erosion because it exposes the soil.
Background Information on Cane Fires
There are usually three reasons why sugarcane is burnt. The first two are not by choice:
1. The first: Arson!
2. The second: Lightning starts the fire.
3. The third (and by far the most common): The cane is burnt deliberately prior to harvesting. The main reasons for this are:
- Processing burnt cane results in lower undesirable plant components (mainly dry leaves, called trash) in the factory, which results in a higher extraction of sugar.
- It is easier to harvest cane that has been burnt – there is less bulk and the cane fires usually chase snakes away.
- The transport costs for bringing the harvested burnt cane to the sugar mill are lower, since cane leaves take up space, but do not add value in terms of sugar extraction.
More Information
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 12:54 |
