Enhancing the Value of Sugarcane Leaves and Tops through Bio-based Product Development for Reducing PM 2.5

Abstract

This article provides information on utilizing sugarcane leaves and tops—an agricultural waste abundant in sugarcane plantation areas in Thailand—to add value to various products, aiming to reduce PM 2.5. The article addresses: (1) The sugarcane situation in the 2022/2023 crop year (2) General information about sugarcane (3) The potential use of sugarcane leaves and tops for biomass electricity in sugar mills (4) Emissions of CO2 and PM 2.5 from burning sugarcane leaves and tops (5) The ratio of biomass production used to estimate the quantity available (6) The heat and humidity of fuel used to assess the potential of plants in Thailand (7) An assessment of the biomass's ability produced from sugarcane leaves and tops in 2022/2023 (8) Benefits derived from using sugarcane leaves and tops as feedstock for biomass production (9) Approaches to utilizing sugarcane leaves and tops as value-added biomass products (specifically as biomass fuel) to reduce PM 2.5.
The learner earnestly hopes that this article will substantially benefit the public sector, private sector, sugarcane farmers, and the general public by providing preliminary information for informed decisions and further action on the enhanced use of sugarcane in value-added applications.