Source-Based Variability in the Properties of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash: A Comparative Study

Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) is produced when sugarcane bagasse is burnt in sugar mills. Its properties can differ depending on the source, which may affect its use as a supplementary cementitious material. In this study, raw SCBA collected from three sugar mills in Telangana, India, was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The XRF results showed that silica (SiO₂) was the major oxide in all three samples, with contents of 62.57%, 66.72%, and 56.36% in Samples A, B, and C, respectively. The combined content of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ ranged from 59.73% to 70.02%. Loss on ignition (LOI) also varied between the samples, from 11.68% to 25.90%. The XRD patterns showed quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite, along with a noncrystalline fraction. FTIR was used to examine the bonding characteristics of the ash. The FESEM images showed differences in particle morphology, with irregular, fibrous, and porous features. Among the three samples, Sample B had the highest silica content and the lowest LOI. The results show that the characteristics of raw SCBA vary between sources. Therefore, its potential use in cementitious materials needs to be assessed by considering its chemical composition, mineralogical characteristics, and particle morphology. Further testing is required to determine its pozzolanic reactivity.