Erosion control products from sugarcane bagasse

The erosion control industry uses different types of geosynthetics in order to mitigate the negative impact that erosion has on the environment. One of the most rapidly growing segments within this industry is the natural mats and blankets market. With new environmental regulations and enforcement, the demand for these natural products has considerably increased because of their biodegradability, good moisture retention, low cost and environmentally friendly image. The goal of this present work was to develop a continuous manufacturing process for sugarcane bagasse mats, which could be implemented in the local sugar mills and could provide an economic benefit to both sugarcane industry and road construction industry. To provide the market with a good and competitive product, several designs were tested at Audubon Sugar Institute, St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Using a simple prototype device 1.2 m x 2.4 m sugarcane bagasse mats were produced. Different chemical and mechanical treatments were applied to determine which one will yield the most appropriate bagasse fibers for mat formation. Thermo-gravimetrical analysis was used to compare the effect on bagasse fibers of two chemical treatments: sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. Two experimental plots were tested to examine the grass penetration capability of the bagasse mats. The bagasse mats were tested for thickness, weight, strength, water absorption and smolder resistance according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods, and following the guidelines of the Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC