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Infrared (IR) evaporation characteristics of Weak Soda Black Liquor (WSBL) were determined at five different temperatures of 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120°C. The effect of constant temperature on evaporation rate and moisture content (on a dry basis) of 1.5 gm approx. WSBL tests were contemplated and required a careful time frame of IR dissipation to vanish the dampness content at a different consistent temperature. The dissipation rate expanded with expanding infrared temperature. Therefore, different numerical models, such as Page and Logarithmic, Henderson, Pabis and Lewis, were utilised to fit the experimental data properly. A Gaussian model equation was developed for evaporation rate and moisture fraction of black liquor. The probable empirical parameters, along with the relating of reduced chi-square (X²), Residual Sum of Square (RSS), and coefficients of determination (adjusted R²) from non-linear regression analysis of all the numerical model equations, were examined. In addition, the effect of evaporation temperature on the water removal rate, the effective diffusion coefficient and activation energy were also estimated. The effective diffusion coefficient ranges from 2.67 × 10-10 m²/s to 10.4 × 10-10 m²/s, and the activation energy was 39.19 kJ/mol. The statistical indicators (chi-square and determination coefficient) showed that the Decay model equation and Gaussian equation are the most suitable models for describing the evaporation process of WSBL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is a cash crop that has been a significant source of revenue in many countries around the world. In the last few decades, sugarcane mills that were only intended for sugar production were converted into biorefineries. Biorefinery enables the co-production of useful products from the sugarcane wastes such as bagasse, molasses, cane trash, filter mud and vinasse. In certain applications like disposable plates, fly ash, and as reinforcement in polymer composites, bagasse can be directly employed without the need for secondary processing while applications like paper, biochemical, lignosulfonate, vanillin, etc., require secondary processing through the biochemical route involving pre-treatment, acid hydrolysis, and fermentation. Other sugarcane wastes can also be mixed with bagasse to obtain biomethane, bioethanol, and bioelectricity. This article focuses on the recent advancements in such pre-treatment and processing methods employed by the researchers. It also outlines the strategies to co-generate two different products and ways to maximize the product yield and highlights various parameters influencing the process. The challenges that are critical to the sustainability of the sugarcane biorefineries and their mitigations were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]