Research on the spontaneous combustion of hay (Rothhaum, 1963) has
indicated the sensitivity of material self-heating below 100 °C to changes in the
water content and relative humidity in the pile. Experiments with glucose
(Rothhaum) and coal, charcoal, wool etc. (Walker, 1967), have shown that oxidation occurs more rapidly when water is present Recent preliminary microcalorimetric investigations with hagasse at low temperature (60 °C) (Gray, 1987),
show considerably enhanced heat generation in the presence of water.
Little is known of the low temperature reaction mechanisms in bagasse. The
relative importance of wet cellulose oxidation and aqueous phase oxidation of
microbiological and hydrolysis byproducts has not been established. The
aqueous low temperature reactions may have critical conditions of their own. The
controlling effects of oxygen and water vapour diffusion have also to be quantified.