Agro-Industrial Residues from Sugar Cane for Energy Use and Application in Energy Storage Devices ^†

Obtaining new materials from waste plays an important role in contributing to sustainability and innovation and reducing the environmental impact of industrial activities, thus contributing to the circular economy of the main production process that gives rise to that waste. Sugar cane bagasse has attracted interest due to its technological and environmental applications, as it is used as a raw material for producing materials that offer a sustainable solution for managing agro-industrial waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as being used in the manufacture of electrodes for energy storage and in the production of sensors due to its high carbon content and porosity. The aim of this study is to characterize the residue generated from unburned sugarcane bagasse in the steam generation process in terms of its energy and technological potential. A calorific value analysis enabled the energy potential of this residue to be quantified, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and proximate analysis enabled the structural and chemical composition of this residue to be characterized. The analyses identified the material’s energy and technological potential, given its lower calorific value of around 24 MJ/kg and its 70% carbon-based composition, which allows the waste to be used as a precursor in routes to obtain carbon-based materials and studied as a basis for energy-storing materials.