The sugarcane bagasse plate is a biodegradable and sustainable alternative to plastic or Styrofoam. It is made from natural fibers and is heat-resistant, grease resistant, and cut-resistant. They are ideal for hot and cold foods and can be used in microwaves, refrigerators, and freezers.Sugarcane is a renewable resource. In addition, it is one of the most compostable food service materials.This fibrous material is extracted from the juice extraction process of sugarcane. During the process, it is turned into a pulp, which is then processed and sterilized. Afterwards, it is converted into dry pulp board.
Despite its high fiber content, it is a budget-friendly option for disposable tableware. Bagasse is also considered an eco-friendly alternative to polystyrene. Moreover, it is used to produce sustainable regenerated textile fibers.One way to make fiber from sugarcane bagasse is to use starch, which has similar properties to cellulose. However, the presence of hemicellulose and lignin in the raw material affects the mechanical properties of the fiber.
To study the mechanical properties of fiber from sugarcane bagasse, researchers soaked the fibers in a sodium hydroxide solution. After this treatment, the fibers were milled in a ball mill for 5 hours. Those treated with NaOH showed improved mechanical properties.In another study, the authors tried to isolate fibers from the whole sugarcane bagasse. They pretreated two samples with distilled water and salty water.These methods produced different types of fibers. While the initial treatment provided larger fibers, the second method yielded smaller fibers.