ABSTRACT
Other chapters of this volume have placed emphasis on large-scale commercial production of the most common traditional products recovered from the sugar cane stalk, including raw and refined sugar energy (steam and electricity) from bagasse and ethanol. In this chapter, we present a broader review of the many existing and potential sugar cane resource streams and co-products from which valueadded products can be developed, including the use of other fractions of the sugar cane biomass (e.g. green tops and leaves, dry cane trash). The final products include speciality sugars, sucro-chemicals, alco-chemicals, pulp and paper, furfural and other manufactured goods, relying on commercially proven technologies. We also present the status of research and development on the use of cane tops and leaves and cane trash. Finally, we present a review on the sugar cane-based agro-industrial complexes in a selected number of countries. These complexes integrate sugar and a number of value-added products while optimizing use of energy (steam and electricity obtained bagasse combustion) as well as water; the overall objective is to maximize the revenue stream from sugar cane biomass, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the sugar cane industry.
