ABSTRACT
Sugarcane is the main source of sucrose in the sugar industry and cane tops, trash (dried leaf bases), bagasse, molasses, and filter cake (press mud) are the major residues generated and disposed of. All these constitute about 40% of the weight of cane crushed, besides furnace ash. ¢e top ten sugarcane producers of the world are given in Table 15.1 and the yearly production of four main residues of sugarcane is given in Table 15.2 indicating a huge scope for down-the-line industrial activity. Traditionally, each of the residues serves as a source material for the manufacture of products, which are of great utility. ¢ere are nearly 150 valuable products derived from the above-mentioned residues, of which 38 are considered potentially important items of commerce (Paturau 1982a).
