Sustainability of Sisal Cultivation in Brazil Using Co-Products and Wastes

Abstract

This work evaluates the potential of co-products from sisal fiber extraction and of plant residues at the end of the productive life cycle and their upgrading into bioproducts and biofuels, focus on Brazil, and, specifically on the Sisal Identity Territory in the state of Bahia. Sisal co-products and residues are identified and quantified; Environmental and socio-economic indicators are applied. Energy potential and bioproducts from sisal in Brazil have been studied in universities and research centers, but not sufficiently quantified, so the scientific bases for this purpose are still limited. Considering an annual sisal fiber production in Brazil at 100,000 MT, and a 4% yield from the fiber extraction process, an estimated 2.4 million metric tons of products are thus generated by the defibering process, consisting of pulp, sisal tow, and juice. Furthermore, an estimated 900,000 metric tons per year of residual biomass from the stems at the end of the 10-year productive cycle is produced and presently left to rot in the field.

Using Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Economy Principles to Address Nutrient Depletion in Tanzanian Sisal Fibre Production

“…The wastes from sisal fibre processing include a liquid stream, which contains soluble sugars and chlorophyll, and a solid steam, which contains short fibres (tow) and leaf pulp (cuticle and parenchymal tissue) [2], [59]. The wastes gravity flow in channels to large shallow retention areas, where the solid material is retained and the wastewater then…”

Addressing Nutrient Depletion in Tanzanian Sisal Fiber Production Using Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Economy Principles, with Bioenergy Co-Production

“…The main applications for the hard natural fiber produced from sisal leaves are yarn, twine, rope, sacks, home furnishings, cloth, paper, and carpets [60,61], but during the 1950s, sisal fiber was gradually replaced by cheaper, synthetic fibers [2,61]. Production in the global sisal market peaked in 1974 at over 866,122 tonnes but has subsequently dropped to below 400,000 tonnes per year [2].…”

PENYAKIT ZEBRA PADA SISAL (AGAVE SPP.): TANTANGAN BAGI PENGEMBANGAN SISAL DI INDONESIA DAN MANAGEMEN PENGENDALIANNYA;Zebra Disease of Sisal: Challenge for Sisal Development in Indonesia and Its Control Management

“…Manici & Caputo, (2004) menyebutkan bahwa tanah yang kaya bahan organik akan meningkat kesuburannya. Bahan organik yang tinggi juga akan meningkatkan aktivitas dan populasi mikroba tanahnya sehingga berfungsi sebagai buffer dan memperbaiki keseimbangan ekosistem yang nantinya mampu berperan menurunkan populasi beberapa patogen tular tanah (Hoitink & Boehm, 1999 (Cantalino et al, 2015). Limbah bahan organik tersebut dapat digunakan sebagai sumber kompos yang nantinya dikembalikan ke lahan untuk meningkatkan kesuburan.…”