L. D. BAVER, ExPeriment Station, Hawaiialz Sugar Planters' Association

648 MANUFACTUKING SECTION procedures from it. These, together with the whole range of materials available from other by-products of the sugar indust...
5 downloads 2 Views 306KB Size
648

MANUFACTUKING SECTION

procedures from it. These, together with the whole range of materials available from other by-products of the sugar industry, go to show that a whole chemical industry may be based solely on sugarcane. One essential and key material is missing. This is benzene. If it was possible easily to convert carbohydrates into this substances, then there would indeed be little in modern chemical industry which could not be obtained from sugarcane. DISCUSSION enquired about the prot&s mentio~ledfor making briquettes from bagasse MR. CONSTANDSE and molasses. . ... PROF.WIGGINSsaid that he thought tha.t the briquetting process was used in the West Indies. MR. ARGUELLAS mentioned a Cuban plant. MR. DYMOND referred to methane production from waste cellulose in Europe, and suggested that it might be used with bagasse. replied that there were considerable potentialities in the production of methane, PROF.WIGGINS from which acetylene could be obtained. This is a lrey material for the chemical industry. MR. JOSHIin mentioning the production of methane from fiilter cake said that sulphur compounds inhibited the anaerobic fermentation. MR. MASCARO referring to the recovery of sucrose from molasses, mentioned the use of barium hydroxide in Cuba. Recovery of barium had made the process uneconomic. He aslred the speaker for his opinion of other processes now available. PROF.WIGGINSsaid that many processes had been proposed including one by Kloppenberg which seemed to have possibilities. Precipitation by ethyl alcohol followed by treatment with millr of lime left a residual solution from wl~ichsucrose could be recovered. He also melltioned the use of ion-exchange resins. DR. DOUWES-DEKIZER said that he found the Kloppenberg proces gave disappointing results on Natal molasses. A similar process had been tried in Java wit11 no good results. Other spealrers confirmed these findings. THE CHAIRMAN suggested that recovery of sugars by separation of thecalciu~msalts might be worth investigating. MR. HAZARD felt that no process should chemically go too far from the origi!i81'%atuial material . , owing to the rise in costs a t each stage of the process. THE CHAIRMAN in rounding off the discussion, felt that, with the primitive economy existing around sugar-mills in the tropics, it was the duty and interest of manufacturers to consider the wellbeing of the surrounding peasantry. Cheap charcoal from bagasse would, .fie thought, help to raise their standard of living.

DR. PAYNEthem presented a paper by DR. BAVERon B'y-Products research.

SUGARCANE BY-PRODUCTS RESEARCH IN HAWAII*

L. D. BAVER , ExPeriment Station, Hawaiialz Sugar Planters' Association I t is a well-ltnown fact that wealth in any area can only be derived from natural resources through the efforts of human resources. The natural resources in Hawaii are more or less limited. There are no minerals, oil, or large forested areas. The only resources, other than those found in the ocean, are climate and soil. This means that Hawaii is primarily an agricultural area, though its climate is used very effectively in the promotion of the tourist trade. I

* Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 15 in the Journal Series of the Honolulu, Hawa~i. Experiment Station, Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Assoc~at~on, i

649

L. D. BAVER

Only about one-tenth of the total land area of Hawaii is tillable. The major portion of this tillable land is utilized by the two major agricultural industries: sugar and pineapple. Smaller areas are used for the cultivation of horticultural crops, Ranching, carried on primarily on the steeper mountain slopes, is also a fair-sized industry. The intensive culture of sugarcane and pineapple has resulted in the full utilization of the land adapted to these two wealth-producing crops. An analysis of Island has indicated that there is little chance of other crops displacing the two major industries. This means that the possibilities for diversification of Territorial income is rather limited when thought of in terms of fitting other agricultural crops into the sugarcane and pineapple patterns of farming. Realizing that the need for industrial development within the Islands must be based upon the processing of raw materials 'from the soil, the question naturally arises as to whether or not all of the potentials from the existing crops are being exploited. The Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association is quite mindful of the fact that new industries are essential to the future stability of the economy of the Islands. Consequently, it has asked itself the question whether or not by-products of raw sugar production might have possibilities for new industries. I t so happens that there are two interesting needs within the Islands that may be met, a t least in part, by canesugar by-products. In the first place, the Islands are deficient in livestock and poultry products. Large amounts of Mainland carbohydrates are being imported into a territory where carbohydrates are being produced abundantly in the field. In the second place, paper products are being imported for the fabrication of carton boxes and rpulching paper, even though large amounts of cellulose are produced annually in the field. In order to investigate thoroughly the possibilities of using two sugarcane byproducts, molasses and bagasse, more effectively in the Island economy, the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, through its Experiment Station, began intensive research in this area in 1951. I t engaged MR. GEORGEW. ALJIAN,Director of Purchasing and Packaging for Calif,ornia and Hawaiian Sugar Refining Corporation in San Francisco, to coordinate the manifold activities of the by-products project. The philosophy of the research program has been based upon exploring all possible avenues of by-products utilization rather than concentrating upon just one segment of the problem. The research has been divided into four distinct phases : I. Methods of separation of the pith and fiber fractions of bagasse. 2. Utilization of sugarcane by-products for livestoclc and poultry feed. 3. Utilization of bagasse fiber for manufacture of pulp, paper and board. 4. Utilization of sugarcane by-products for the production of chemicals and related materials. METHODS O F

PITH-FIBER

SEPARATION

Initial discussions of the utilization of bagasse for various purposes indicated that the inclusion of the pith fraction was not conducive to the production of pulp which would give strong characteristics to the paper made from it. Moreover, the pith fraction apparently was supposed to utilize a considerable quantity of chemicals which otherwise would serve for pulping the fiber. In the second place, even though the pith fraction was lcnown to have high absorbent properties for liquids, including molasses, it was felt that too much of the harder fibers in the pith would be deleterious to its use as a carrier for

6 5 ~

MANUFACTURING SECTION

molasses in livestock feeds. Consequently, a rather concentrated attack was made upon methods of separating the pith from the fiber. A pilot plant was set u p at one of the sugar mills near Honolulu to investigate separation procedures. In addition, a cooperative research project was carried on at the Northern Regional Research Laboratory of the United States Department of Agriculture a t Peoria, Illinois. From this research, it has been ascertained that economical atld satisfactory methods of separation, either in a wet or dry condition, can-be obtained. d t has been found that,the use of a disc refiner to rub the pith from the fiber, followed by a screening upon a vibratory screen, will give quite satisfactory separation. I t has also been shown that for the production of certain types of pith, vibrating screens of the Rotex type are effective in the dry state. Feeding experiments indicated that the pith did not have to be absolutely free from short fibers for ruminant animals. The separation work has reached a point a t which it can be held in abeyance until further experimentation on the production of paper from bagasse indicates whether the percentage of pith presently remaining with the fiber can be tolerated, or whether continuing research in this field is needed. F E E D S FROM SUGARCANE BY-PRODUCTS

Experiments on the feeding of "B" molasses, final molasses, low-grade sugars and pith-molasses combinations have been conducted cooperatively with the Hawaiian Agricultural Experiment Station and with local livestocB producers. I t has been found that a rather dry type of molasses feed can be produced by mixing five to eight parts of molasses to one of pith. Pen-fattening tests with beef cattle with pith-molasses combinations have been more or less disappointing except where "B" molasses is used in lieu of "A" molasses. I t is too early to state what. the outcome of the final experiments on penfattening will be. On the other hand, when steers were fed mixtures of molasses and pith as a supplement to grazing, it became obvious that this supplemental feeding could carry animals through a period of drought severe enough to strip the pastures almost completely. This is important to know since supplemental feeding can be quite profitable under drought conditions. Preliminary tests have indicated that when as much as 25 % of the concentrates in the dairy cattle ration are replaced with the molasses-pith combination, a net saving of about two percent can be made in the feed costs per quart of milk. In the raising of dairy heifers, it is indicated that savings in feed costs through the use of molasses-pith mixtures might be as much as 20 to 25 %. Feeding tests with swine at the University of Hawaii have suggested that savings from 10 to 20 % in feed costs might be realized by substituting "B" molasses for 40 % of the barley in hog rations. That "A" molasses is not as effective as "B" molasses is . undoubtedly due to its higher salt content. Experiments with laying hens have conclusively shown that either low-grade sugar or "B" molasses combined with dry pith in a 10-to-I ratio can be used as the only source of carbohydrate during periods of feed shortages. "B" molasses gives a cheaper production than low-grade sugar. Apparently the maximum quantity of "B" molasses that may be fed economically is about 30 % of the total ration. Likewise, it has been shown that growing chicks can be carried through long periods with sugar products. Experiments are still in progress to indicate the practical significance of these findings in a permanent poultry ration. /

I

-

65I

L. D. BAVER

The feeding experiments to date definitely show that there is possibility in the Islands of a small feed producing mill which can utilize sugarcane by-products as substitutes for some of the imported Mainland feeds, and which can thereby help make the Islands more self-sufficient. I t has been definitely shown that freight costs will make it economically impossible to ship molasses-pith to the Mainland for incorporation in feeds PAPER PULPS FROM BAGASSE

Approximately one million tons of dry bagasse are produced annually in Hawaii. The majority of this bagasse is burned as fuel for power for the mills. There is one small plant manufacturing wallboard; one) or two of the plantations are utilizing bagasse advantageously for soil improvement. I t has been fairly well established that based on the present price of fuel oil, one ton of dry bagasse is equivalent to about 2.7 tons of oil. Utilization of bagasse for plup in the paper and related fields can be immediately divided into three categories. The first is production of low-grade pulp for the manufacture of 9-point corrugated board and the malting of mulching paper. Preliminary experiments during the past year in cooperation with the Northern Regional Research Laboratory and the School of Forestry at Syracuse University, as well as with the Flintkote Company in California, have indicated that a good grade of container board can be made from bagasse. These preliminary tests are being followed by other related studies with particular emphasis on the economics of making 9-point corrugated board in the Islands. I t seems fairly apparent at this time that ecoilomic factors may be more important than technology in -deciding whether container board from bagasse can be made in Hawaii. In the second place, there is a possibility of making high-grade bleached pulps from bagasse. Since the bagasse fibers are shorter than the usual wood fibers used in paper manufacture, they have the limitation of a lower tearing strength. However, they impart other characteristics desirable in the forming of paper sheets which may be advantageous from an industrial point of view. To pursue the possibilities in this direction, the Hawaiin Sugar Planters' Association has developed a working agreement with the research laboratories of the Crown Zellerbach Corporation at Camas, Washington, to explore all possibilities indhis area. This work is now under way and results will not be forthcoming before the end of 1953. The third category is that of alpha cellulose or dissolving pulp. Since both the research and development costs in this area are extremely large, work in this field must await completion of the studies with low-grade and bleached pulps. CHEMICALS FROM SUGARCANE

BY-PRODUCTS

Very little has been done in this area during the past year. Major concentration has been focused upon determining the wax content of filter cake from the sugar mills. I t has been found that the crude wax content for all the mills of the Territory averages about 6.77 %, and varies from 2.64 to 11.75 %. Preliminary studies have indicated that the hard wax content of the crude wax is much lower than in other sugar producing areas. A thorough investigation of the possibilities of chemicals and related products from sugarcane by-products is contemplated. Particular attention will be given to new uses for the pith fraction, as well as to the possibilities of manufacture of plastics, hardboards and other materials from bagasse.

652

MANUFACTURING SECTION

I n conclusion, it should be emphasized that the Hawaiian sugar industry appreciates the far reaching implications of the by-products research project. I t visualizes the important contributions which may be made to the economy of the Islands if diversification within the sugar industry is achieved through by-products utilization. A rather commendatory beginning has been made. There are many problems still to be sobed. The industry looks to -the future with confidence that research holds the keys to more efficient utilization of the carbohydrate and cellulose materials stored in the sugarcane plant. DISCUSSION MR. CONSTANDSE asked if dry methods of pith separation were really successful. I-Ie inquired as to the amount of pith obtained from bagasse, and whether it had been possible to manufacture high-grade paper and newsprint from bagasse alone. DR. PAYNEreplying, said that the pith separation depended on the initial preparation and varied between 25 and 30 %. Pith was poor material for newsprint, thepaperhaviilgpoorabsorbing qualities and high "tinlrle". They preferred to seelr uses t o which it was peculiarly adapted, and the short, thin fibres which matt well gave excellent bond paper and absorbent tissue. SIR JOHNSAINTwas interested in feeding values of pith/molasses mixtures. He referred to the fact that fibrous materials might be injurious to non-ruminant animals, for instance horses fed wlth straw alone died quiclrer than completely starved animals. DR. PAYNEsaid the pith had no feeding value and served as a carrier for the molasses. In reply to a question by MR. BERDESHEVSIZY he said that the ash content of their B molasses was about 8 %.

MR. DYMOND said that $he separation of rind fibre . and pith should give two types of material, whicl~might be employed for different purposes. MR. HUTSON enquired about the production of alcohol from molasses. DR. PAYNEsaid that in the U.S.A. i t could not compete with the synthetic product. MR. MACDONALD said that fiscal difficulties were holding up the production of absolute alcohol in Jamaica. MR. NEVATIA stated illat power alcohol production in India was successful. MR. SCOTTmentioned the use of immature canes for aconitic acid production.

6

MR. WISE presented the following paper. f

Paper THE CONVERSION OF MOLASSES INTO LACTIC ACID BY CHEMICAL MEANS

D. W. CHADWICK, L. F. WIGGINSand W. S. WISE . B.W.I. Sugar Research Sclzeme, T h e Inqberial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad INTRODUCTION

Lactic acid is a t present produced on a relatively small scale, primarily for use in food technology, in medicine, and in the tanning industry. The current price1 of edible grade lactic acid of 44 % purity in the United Kingdom is £12z/ton, i.e., nearly 216 per pound of lactic acid. The method of manufactureZof lactic acid in general use, both in Great Britain and the United States, involves the fermentation of carbohydrate materials by microorganisms such as Lactobacillus Delbruckii. The carbohydrates generally used are molasses or the lactose present in whey. As the fermentation proceeds, the lactic acid formed is neutralized by the addition of chalk or lime. The mixture is then heated to References

pp.

662-663.

‘i

I

Suggest Documents