The sugar cane plant of four Mauritian cane varieties and of three ages was successfully separated into fibres of its component parts by means of a simple physical method specially developed for the purpose. The use of a 1.18 mm sieve ensured complete separation of fibres from pith, of which the ratio gives an indication of the milling quality of the cane variety. The four cane varieties under study showed a fibre/pith ratio approaching one, indicating good millability. In terms of % cane the greatest percentage of dry mass of fibre was extracted from the rind. For rind this percentage decreased with the age of the cane sample for all the varieties.
The rind fibres and fines showed the highest carbon content and the green leaf fibres and fines the lowest. The rind also exhibited the highest GCV. The GCV values mirrored the carbon content of the fibres. The FTIR spectra of the components were typical of lignocellulosic material and rind fibres exhibited the greatest crystallinity. All the components were thermally stable up to a temperature of 200 °C. Thereafter, pyrolysis occurred at approximately 300 and 350 °C corresponding to the decomposition of hemicellulose and lignin and cellulose and lignin respectively. Two exotherms were apparent in the DSC curves: one at 350 °C and the other between 440 and 500 °C. The fibres from the rind and stalk showed clear trends in their properties.
This study has furnished information on the properties of the different fibres which can be extracted from the sugar cane plant. This will assist in determining suitable end-uses for these fibres, which will add value to the crop.