Saccharification of bagasse pith

Abstract

Work is reported here on a process for the saccharification of bagasse pith, as the second part of a study of bagasse processing aimed at establishing an integrated industry. A method for pentose preparation from bagasse pith is designed on the basis of the conclusions reached in the first part of the study. It is preferable to Scholler's process in recovery of sugar and in concentration of the sugar solution. A process for glucose production from pentose-exhausted cellulosic residue is also developed to avoid the difficulties encountered in the Udic-Rheinau process. It seems to be a promising continuous process capable of giving a higher yield of glucose with less acid at a higher speed and affording favourable conditions for crystallising the dissolved glucose.