Atualmente os processos biotecnológicos têm conquistado um lugar de destaque no desenvolvimento tecnológico mundial, tendo as enzimas como as celulases, grande importância econômica e diferentes aplicações industriais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi à obtenção de fungos isolados e selecionados do ambiente agroindustrial, com a capacidade de hidrolisar a fração celulósica do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar. Um total de 46 isolados foram obtidos de bagaço de cana coletados em 3 destilarias. Quinze apresentaram a formação de halo pela coloração com vermelho Congo, os quais foram avaliados quanto a atividade celulolítica (F1 a F15), tendo como referência o fungo Trichoderma ressei 9414. Os isolados foram cultivados em bagaço de canade- açúcar 1% e conduziu-se a determinação da atividade de endoglucanase (CMCase) empregando-se carboximetilcelulose (CMC) como substrato, e da atividade da celulase total (FPase) empregando papel de filtro como substrato. Após 21 dias de cultivo em bagaço de canade- açúcar nenhum dos isolados apresentou atividade da celulase total maior que T. ressei QM9414. Destes isolados, F9 apresentou maior valor para a atividade da celulase total após 7 dias de cultivo. Com relação a atividade da endoglucanase, no sétimo dia de cultivo o isolado F27 obteve melhor resultado que T. ressei QM 9414. Quanto à cinética da atividade de endoglucanase os isolados 9, 23 e 27 apresentaram atividades enzimáticas muito próximas do fungo referência (QM9414). Os resultados mostram o grande potencial da biodiversidade existente em nichos industriais, na busca de linhagens com potencialidade na hidrólise enzimática de substrato lignocelulósico, como o bagaço de cana- de-açúcar. / Biotechnological processes are achieving increased relevance in today\'s technological development, being enzymes such as celullases, of great economical importance in different industrial applications. The objective of this work was the isolation and selection of fungi from agroindustrial environment, with capacity of hydrolysing the cellulosic fraction of sugar cane bagasse. Forty six isolates were evatuated for their cellulolytic activity using CMC as carbon source and Cong Red as staining indicator . Fifteen isolates showed halo formation by red Congo staining, and they were evaluated for cellulolytic activity (F1 to F15), using Trichoderma ressei 9414 as a reference. The isolates were cultivated in 1% sugar cane bagasse and the cellulolytic activities were assessed by the determination of endoglucanase activity (CMCase) using carboximetilcelulose (CMC) as substrate, and the total celullase activity (FPase) applying filter paper as substrate. After 21 days of cultivation in sugar cane bagasse neither of the isolates showed total cellulase activity higher than T. ressei QM9414. From these isolates, F9 showed higher total cellulase activity after 7 cultivation days. For endoglucanase activity, the isolate F27 showed better result than T. ressei QM 9414 in the seventh cultivation day. For the endoglucanase activity kinetics, the isolates 9, 23 and 27 showed enzymatic activities very close to the reference fungus (QM9414). These results allow to suggest a great biotechnological potential for the biodiversity found in industrial niches, regarding the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosics substrates, namely the sugar cane bagasse.

Succinic acid is a compound used for manufacturing lacquers, resins, and other coating chemicals. It is also used in the food and beverage industry as a flavor additive. It is predominantly manufactured from petrochemicals, but it can also be produced more sustainably by fermentation of sugars from renewable feedstocks (biomass). Bio-based succinic acid has excellent potential for becoming a platform chemical (building block) for commodity and high-value chemicals. In this study, we focused on the production of bio-based succinic acid from the fiber of sweet sorghum (SS), which has a high fermentable sugar content and can be cultivated in a variety of climates and locations around the world. To avoid competition with food feedstocks, we targeted the non-edible ‘bagasse’, which is the fiber part after extracting the juice. Initially, we studied various conditions of pretreating SS bagasse to remove most of the non-fermentable portions and expose the cellulose fibers containing the fermentable sugars (glucose). Concentrated (83%) phosphoric acid was utilized at mild temperatures of 50-80 °C for 30-60 minutes at various bagasse loadings (10-15%) using a partial factorial experimental design. After pretreatment, the biomass was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis with commercial cellulase enzyme (Cellic® Ctec2) to identify the pretreatment conditions that lead to the highest glucose yield that is critical for the production of succinic acid via fermentation with the bacterium Actinobacillus succinogenes. As the pretreatment temperature and duration increased, the bagasse color changed from light brown to dark brown-black, indicating decomposition, which ranged from 15% to 72%. The pretreatment results were fitted with an empirical model that identified 50 °C for 43 min at 13% solids loading as optimal pretreatment conditions that lead to the highest glucose release from sweet sorghum bagasse. Biomass pretreated at those conditions and subjected to separate enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation with A. succinogenes yielded almost 18 g/L succinic acid, which represented 90% of the theoretical yield, a very promising performance that warranties further investigation of bio-based succinic acid production from sweet sorghum bagasse, as a more sustainable alternative to succinic acid produced from fossil sources, such as oil.

En este trabajo se estudian los parámetros de obtención de tableros sin aporte de adhesivos, a partir de materiales lignocelulósicoscomo son la caña común (Arundodonax L.) y el bagazo de SaccharumofficinarumL. Los tableros propuestos aportan como ventaja el estar libres de emisiones de formaldehído y el no consumir recursos fósiles. Ambas propiedades son importantes en un mercado cada vez más exigente en aspectos medioambientales. En el caso del “ArundodonaxL” se ha partido de cañas silvestres de Tarragona. El bagazo de Saccharumofficinarum utilizado es el subproducto industrial de una destilería de la Isla de la Palma (Canarias). El material crudo ha sido pretratado realizando una “explosión de vapor” en un reactor “batch” a distintas condiciones de severidad. Este material explosionado se ha triturado y prensado en frío de dos formas (en seco y en húmedo). Posteriormente, los tableros prensados en frío y acondicionados a temperatura y HR constantes se han prensado en caliente a diferentes niveles de presión, temperatura y tiempo de prensado. En el proceso de producción a escala de laboratorio de los tableros, se han mejorado algunas de las fases seguidas como el prensado, introduciendo mallas de evacuación de vapor; y se han innovado otros, como la incorporación del prensado en frío y el tratamiento térmico final después de la conformación en caliente. Todo ello para mejorar la homogeneidad y obtener tableros de altas prestaciones mecánicas con estosmateriales. Se ha podido estudiar el efecto de los distintos factores que intervienen en la producción de tableros (Severidad del pretratamiento, temperatura de prensado, presión de prensado y tiempo de prensado), sobre las características físicas y mecánicas de estos tableros(Densidad, MOE, MOR, IB, TS y WA). Con ello se han obtenido las relaciones matemáticas que vinculan a estos factores de producción con las características físicas y mecánicas de los tableros. Puede ser muy importante para la industria el hecho de que los modelos ajustados definidos nos pueden permitir obtener tableros con características prefijadas. También se ha valorado la utilización de material integro explosionado y no lavado y, por tanto, sin ningún lixiviado ni residuo. Los tableros cumplen sobradamente los requerimientos de las norma EN para uso estructural, en todas las características físico-mecánicas estudiadas. Abreviaturas: HR Humedad relativa MOE Módulo de elasticidad en flexión o Módulo de Young MOR Módulo de rotura o Resistencia a la flexión IB Resistencia a la tracción perpendicular a las caras (Internal Bond) TS Hinchamiento WA Absorción de agua / This work studies the parameters for obtaining binderless fiberboards from lignocelullosic materials such as giant reed (Arundodonax L.) and sugar cane bagasse (Saccharumofficinarum L.) The suggested boards havethe advantage of being free from formaldehyde emissions and of not consuming fossil resources. Both properties are important in a market that is increasingly sensitivetowards environmental issues. Wild reeds from Tarragona were used as the base material to make Arundodonax Lfiberboards. The Saccharumoffinarumsugar cane bagasse was anindustrial byproduct obtained from a plantation on the island ofLa Palma in the Canary Islands (DestileríasAldea SL). The raw material was pre-treated by performing a “steam explosion” in a “batch” reactor. The exploded material was ground and cold-pressed in two ways (wet and dry). Subsequently, the cold-pressed boards, which had beenconditioned at a constant temperature and RH, were hot-pressed at different levels of pressure, temperature and press time. Some of the processes for producing boards on a laboratory-scale,such as pressing withsteam evacuation meshes, have been improved. Others processes were specifically developed in the laboratory, including the incorporation of cold-pressing and the final heat treatment after hot-forming. The aim of all this was to achieve high mechanical performance in boards made from these materials. Different factors involved in the production of the boards were studied (severity of pretreatment, pressing temperature, pressing pressure and pressing time) to determine how they affectthe physical and mechanical properties of these boards (density, MOE, MOR, IB, TS and WA). As a result, the mathematical relationships that link these production factors to the physical and mechanical properties of the boards were obtained. It is very significant for the industry that these adjusted models can produce boards with preset characteristics. The use of material that wascompletely exploded and unwashed and, therefore, without residue has also been studied. In terms of all the physical-mechanical characteristics studied,the boards fully comply with the requirements of the EN standards for structural use. Abbreviations RHRelativehumidity MOE Modulus of elasticity MOR Modulus of rupture IB Internal bond TS Thicknessswelling WA Water absorption

The objectives of the research are to establish the process of obtaining regenerated fibers and films from wood pulp and bagasse pulp with the ionic liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride (BMIMCl) as a solvent; to study the impacts on tensile strength of different spinning parameters; to find the optimal spinning condition, and to obtain regenerated cellulose products with flame retardant properties. Solutions were obtained by dissolving cellulose (wood/bagasse) pulp into the BMIMCl. The solutions were extruded in a dry-jet and wet-spinning method using water as a coagulation bath. The obtained fibers were tested to evaluate the properties such as tensile strength, thermal property, thermal mechanical property, crystal order, and ionic liquid residue in obtained fiber. The orthogonal experiments were designed to find out the strongest affective variable and the optimal condition of the spinning process. The regenerated cellulose films with melamine resin or zinc oxide were obtained. Their flame retardant properties were tested. Cellulose fiber with melamine resin was also obtained. Thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA) was used to measure the thermal properties of obtained products, and to calculate their activation energies. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was used to determine the thermal mechanical properties of obtained fibers. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) was used to measure the degree of crystallinity and degree of crystal orientation. The tensile strength was tested by a tensile machine. To evaluate the quantity of ionic liquid residue in the regenerated fibers, the instrumental methods of FT-IR and Mass Spectrometry were applied. Research results indicated increases in the degree of crystallinity and storage modulus under a higher fiber drawing speed. Both regenerated bagasse fibers and regenerated wood fibers had similar thermal properties. However, the regenerated bagasse fibers showed a higher degree of crystallinity and a higher tenacity than the regenerated wood fibers obtained under the same condition. The study also revealed water treatment would be helpful for eliminating the ionic residue in regenerated fibers. It was also found the concentration of cellulose in the BMIMCl solution affected the tensile strength of regenerated fiber mostly. Certain amount of melamine or zinc oxide nanoparticles contained in the cellulose matrix could improve the flame retardant property effectively. / text

The utilization of lignocellulosic residues to produce renewable energy is an interesting alternative to meet the increasing demand of fuels while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Sweet sorghum bagasse is a lignocellulosic residue composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin; and it is a promising substrate for ethanol production because its complex carbohydrates may be hydrolyzed and converted into simple sugars, and then fermented into ethanol. However, the utilization of lignocellulosic residues is difficult and inefficient. Lignocellulose is a very stable and compact complex structure, which is linked by β-1,4 and β-1,3 glycosidic bonds. Furthermore, the crystalline and amorphous features of cellulose fibers and the presence of hemicellulose and lignin make the conversion of lignocellulose into fermentable sugars currently impractical at commercial scale. The bioconversion of lignocellulose in nature is performed by microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria, which produce enzymes that are able to degrade lignocellulose. The present study evaluated the bioconversion of lignocellulosic residues of sweet sorghum into simple sugars using filamentous fungi directly in the hydrolysis of the substrate, without prior isolation of the enzymes. The fungus Neurospora crassa and some wild fungi (that grew naturally on sweet sorghum bagasse) were used in this investigation. The effect of the fungi on substrate degradation and the sugars released after hydrolysis were evaluated, and then compared with standard hydrolysis performed by commercial enzymes (isolated cellulases). In addition, different combinations of fungi and enzymes were used to determine the best approach. The main goal was to verify if the fungi were able to attack and break down the lignocellulose structure directly and at a reasonable rate, rather than by the current method utilizing isolated enzymes. The main finding of this study was that the fungi (N. crassa and wild fungi) were able to degrade sweet sorghum bagasse directly; however, in all of the cases, the hydrolysis process was not efficient because the hydrolysis rate was much lower than the enzymatic hydrolysis rate. Hydrolysis using a combination of fungus and commercial enzymes was a good approach, but still not efficient enough for practical use. The best results of combined hydrolysis were obtained when the substrate was under the fungus attack for three days and then, commercial enzymes with low enzymatic activity (7 FPU/g and 25 CBU/g) were added to the solution. These enzymes represent 10% of the current enzymatic activity recommended per gram of substrate. This process reached reasonable levels of sugars (close to 85% of sugars yield obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis); however, the conversion rate was still slower, making the process impractical and more expensive since it took twice the amount of time as commercial enzymes. Furthermore, the wild fungi able to degrade cellulose were isolated, screened, and identified. Two of them belong to the genus Aspergillus, one to the genus Acremonium, and one to the genus Rhizopus. Small concentration of spores-0.5mL- (see Table 4, CHAPTER III- for specific number of spores per mL) did not show any sugar released during hydrolysis of sweet sorghum bagasse. However, when the concentration of spores was increased (to 5mL and 10mL of solution), citric acid production was detected. This finding indicates that those wild fungi were able to degrade lignocellulose, even though no simple sugars were measured, citric acid production is an indicator of fungi growing and utilization of lignocellulose as nutrient. It is assumed that the fungi consume the sugars at the same time they are released, thus they are not detected. The maximum concentration of citric acid (~14.50 mg/mL) was achieved between days 8-11 of hydrolysis. On the other hand, before using lignocellulose, the substrate needed to be pretreated in order to facilitate its decomposition and subsequent hydrolysis. Sweet sorghum bagasse was washed three times to remove any soluble sugars remaining after the juice was extracted from the stalks. Then, another finding of this study was that the first wash solution could be used for ethanol production since the amount of sugars present in it was close to 13°Brix. The ethanol yield after 48 hours of fermentation was in average 6.82mg/mL, which is close to the theoretical ethanol yield. The other two washes were too dilute for commercial ethanol production. In terms of pretreatments, the best one to break down sweet sorghum bagasse was 2% (w/v) NaOH. This pretreatment shows the highest amounts of glucose and xylose released after hydrolysis. Unwashed and untreated bagasse (raw bagasse) did not show any sugar released. In terms of ethanol, 74.50% of the theoretical yield was reached by enzymatic hydrolysis, while 1.10% was reached by hydrolysis using the fungus N. crassa. Finally, it is important to remark that further investigation is needed to improve the direct conversion of lignocellulose into fermentable sugars by fungal enzymes. This approach is a promising technology that needs to be developed and improved to make it efficient and feasible at commercial scale.

The South African sugar industry generates excessive amounts of sugar cane bagasse (~ 25 wt% of feed) as a byproduct during the extraction of sugar juice from cane. Although bagasse is extensively consumed in various processes, a substantial amount remains unexploited. The industry's core business is the production of refined sugar which involves among others, a step of decolourising raw sugar liquor. Activated carbons are well known adsorbents and their excellent decolourisation capabilities have been established since 1800 in the sugar industry. The possibility of making suitable in-house activated carbons from sugar cane bagasse to aid the decolourisation process of raw sugar liquor is of interest to the growing South African sugar industry. The purposes of this research study were to develop an understanding on the manufacture of activated carbons from sugar cane bagasse, produce suitable activated carbons on a laboratory scale, characterize them and subsequently determine their sugar decolourisation capabilities under simulated conditions. The application of the two-step physical method of processing was found to be the most effective and feasible route to produce activated carbons from sugar cane bagasse for the purposes of decolorizing unrefined sugar. A semi-batch process was developed whereby compressed sugar cane bagasse was pyrolysed under a nitrogen atmosphere at a heating rate of 10 °C/min to the final pyrolysis temperature for a desired hold time resulting in bagasse chars with a rudimentary pore structure. These bagasse chars were subsequently subjected to partial and controlled gasification with a steam/nitrogen mixture at higher temperatures to produce the final activated carbon product. Both pyrolysis and activation were carried out in a pyrolysis furnace that was modified to represent a fixed bed reactor system. The process was designed such that it included a steam supply and a gas cleaning system. Feasible processing conditions were established by varymg the temperature, hold time and partial pressure of steam in the pyrolysis furnace. The bagasse chars and final activated carbons were characterized with respect to surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, methylene blue number, iodine number and molasses number. The optimum pyrolysis conditions were found to be at heating rate of 10°C/min to the final pyrolysis temperature of 680 °C for a hold time of 1 hour, which gave rise to microporous carbons. Increasing the steam partial pressure and activation temperature during activation of bagasse chars resulted in the gasification reaction proceeding at a much faster rate leading to well developed mesoporous activated carbons having high adsorption capacity for large colour bodies present in molasses and sugar liquor. This was achieved by activating bagasse chars at a temperature of 900°C for 2 hours with a steam / nitrogen mixture of 1:0.6 which resulted in 50% bum-off being reached. Excellent powder and granular activated carbons were produced from sugar cane bagasse fibres by the established process with the latter being mixed with refined sugar prior to pyrolysis and activating for half an hour extra. A typical final activated carbon produced in this research possessed a BET surface area of 995 m2/g, pore volume of 0.82 crrr'zg, iodine number of 994 mg/g, molasses number of 700 and methylene blue number of 256 mg/g. High ash content in the bagasse raw material tends to decrease the surface area and pore volume for adsorption of the final activated carbon. Both granular and low ash bagasse activated carbons possess high adsorption capacity to remove large colour bodies from molasses and brown liquor solutions and compare well with commercial Norit N2 carbon . Approximately 80% colour removal was achieved using 0.5 g carboni 100g brown liquor. The bagasse activated carbons were stable in acidic and basic brown liquor solution and maintained their high decolourisation potential. The ability of bagasse activated to replace commercial activated carbons has been proven in this study. The option of producing both granular and powder activated carbons provide flexibility of the sugar industry to choose between batch and continuous adsorption systems during sugar decolourisation. This research has established that the fact that excellent sugar decolourising activated carbons can be produced from South African sugar cane bagasse fibres. However, more research needs to be carried out in order for the sugar industry to take this project to the commercial stage and it is suggested that a pilot study and an economic study be carried out. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

L'accumulation de déchets agricoles tels que la bagasse et le développement d'alternatives aux polymères issus de la pétrochimie ont reçu une attention croissante au cours des deux dernières décennies, due à l'augmentation de la population et à la préoccupation croissante pour la préservation de l'environnement. Cette étude tente de résoudre ces problèmes à l'aide de deux approches principales.La première est liée à des composites à base de papier et de liant naturel et la seconde est associée à la préparation et à la caractérisation de dérivés cellulosiques présentant des propriétés cristaux liquides. En ce qui concerne les composites à base de papier et de liant naturel, la modification par dénaturation d'isolat de protéines de soja (SPI), l'ajout d'acrylamide et le changement de pH améliorent certaines propriétés et rendent les SPI plus utiles et acceptables dans diverses applications. Des expériences préliminaires ont été menées pour déterminer la concentration optimale de SPI permettant d'obtenir des propriétés mécaniques et physiques maximales. Des concentrations de 0,5%, 2,5%, et 5% ont été utilisées et 2.5% correspond à la concentration optimale. Pour augmenter les propriétés adhésives du SPI, l'acrylamide a été utilisé comme un modificateur supplémentaire dans des proportions 1,5%, 2,5% et 5%. L'addition nucléophile de l'acrylamide aux chaînes de protéines en milieu alcalin améliore les propriétés de solubilité du SPI et augmente ses propriétés adhésives. L'effet supplémentaire de l'acrylamide sur le SPI est prononcé sur les propriétés mécaniques et physiques. Comme la charge nette du SPI peut être modifiée en faisant varier le pH du milieu aqueux, la corrélation entre les propriétés mécaniques et physiques des feuilles de papier et le pH du SPI a été étudiée. Les pH utilisés ont été 3, 5, 7 et 10, où le pH 5 est le point isoélectrique (IEP) du SPI.A ce pH, le nombre de charges positives et négatives est pratiquement identique. La seconde approche a consisté à préparer et caractériser une série de dérivés cellulosiques 4 - alkyoxybenzoyloxypropyl (ABPC-n). Ces dérivés ont été synthétisés par estérification d'hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) avec un DS 3 par l'acide 4- alkoxybenzoic portant 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12 et 14 atomes de carbone dans la chaîne latérale. D'autre part, de la pâte debagasse a été préparée et caractérisée à partir bagasse égyptienne. L'Hydroxypropylation a ensuite été menée sur la cellulose obtenue et de l'HPC partiellement substituée a été obtenue. En outre, l'estérification de ce dernier avec des acides 4-alkyloxybenzoic portant 2, 10 et 12 atomes de carbone dans la chaîne latérale a été réalisée et les dérivés ont été désignés (ABPC-m). La structure moléculaire du HPC partiellement substitué et des deux esters (ABPC-n et-m ABPC) a été confirmée par spectroscopies infrarouge à transformée de Fourier (FT-IR) et 1H RMN. Les phases cristal liquide (LC) et les transitions de phases ont été étudiées par microscopie en lumière polarisée (PLM) et calorimétrie différentielle à balayage (DSC), respectivement. Pour étudier les propriétés lyotropiques, différentes concentrations de ces échantillons ont été dissous dans le diméthylacétamide (DMA) (20, 30, 40, 50 et 60% en poids) et la concentration critique a été déterminée par réfractométrie en mesurant l'indice de réfraction des solutions dans le DMA et en traçant l'évolution des indices de réfraction en fonction des concentrations. Pour ABPC-n, nous avons observé que les températures de transition vitreuse (Tg) et de compensation (Tc) diminuent avec la longueur de la chaîne alkoxy et que la gamme mésomorphique (Tm-Tc) diminue avec la longueur de la chaîne alkoxy.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S. (Hons.))-- University of Western Sydney, 2008. / A thesis sumitted to the University of Western Sydney in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science (Honours), School of Natural Sciences, College of Health and Science. Includes bibliography.

Orientador: Jorge Luís Akasaki / Co-orientador: Mauro Mitsuuchi Tashima / Banca: José Luiz Pinheiro Melges / Banca: Jorge Juan Payá Bernadeu / Resumo: O Brasil é o maior produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar, devido a sua alta produção, enormes quantidades de cinza de bagaço cana-de-açúcar são geradas após a fabricação de álcool e açúcar. A fim de encontrar uma aplicação sustentável para este material residual, este trabalho avalia a produção e utilização de cinza de bagaço cana-de - açúcar (CBC), tanto na produção de aglomerantes com cimento Portland e também em aglomerantes ativados alcalinamente. As propriedades físicas e químicas de CBC foram avaliadas e, os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a CBC apresentou um baixo teor de matéria orgânica (4,4 %) e um elevado teor de SiO2 (78,6 %). A análise por meio do DRX mostrou a presença de fases cristalinas na CBC, sendo o quartzo a fase principal cristalina e a sua presença pode ser atribuída contaminação do bagaço por impurezas do solo. O uso de CBC em substituição parcial ao cimento Portland foi analisado para diferentes porcentagens e tempos de cura. A Reatividade pozolânica da CBC também foi determinada em pastas hidróxido de cálcio / CBC e pastas de cimento Portland / CBC por meio de análise termogravimétrica (TGA). Os resultados confirmaram a reatividade pozolânica da CBC. Para a produção de argamassas e pastas ativadas alcalinamente, trabalhou-se com uma mistura de escória de alto-forno / CBC. Diferentes porcentagens de CBC na faixa de 0-50 % e diferentes tipos de soluções ativadoras foram usadas neste estudo, tais como: hidróxido de sódio, hidróxido de potássio e solução de silicato de sódio. As argamassas ativadas alcalinamente apresentaram resistência à compressão variando de 15-50 MPa, após 90 dias de cura à temperatura ambiente. A análise microestrutural para pastas e argamassas ativadas alcalinamente foram realizadas utilizando diversas técnicas instrumentais, tais como: TGA, FTIR, DRX, SEM e PIM. Para a análise da durabilidade ... / Abstract: Brazil is the biggest worldwide sugar cane productor and, due to its high production, huge amounts of sugar cane bagasse ash are generated after alcohol and sugar manufacture. In order to find out a sustainable application for this waste material, this work assess the production and use of sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) both in Portland cement blended and also in alkali-activated binders. Physical and chemical properties of SCBA were assessed and, obtained results showed that SCBA presented low organic matter (4.4%) and a high SiO2 content (78.6%). XRD pattern showed the presence of crystalline phases in the SCBA, mainly quartz assigned to the soil impurities. The use of SCBA in Portland cement blended mortars was achieved in different percentages and for different curing time. Pozzolanic reactivity of SCBA was also determined in calcium hydroxide/SCBA pastes and Portland cement/SCBA pastes by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for different curing time. The results confirmed the pozzolanic reactivity of SCBA. SCBA was also used in binary systems blast furnace slag/SCBA for the production of alkali-activated binders. Different percentages of SCBA in the range 0-50% and different types of activating solutions such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution were used in this study. Compressive strength mortars in the range 15-50 MPa were yielded after 90 curing days at room temperature. Microstructural analyses for alkali-activated binders were performed using several instrumental techniques such as TGA, FTIR, XRD, SEM and MIP. The durability of selected alkali-activated mortars were tested both in acid attack (HCl, HAc and HN4Cl) and sulfate attack (Na2SO4 and MgSO4). The obtained results were compared to a Portland cement mortars and depending on the attack and on the activating solution, alkali-activated binders can present increment on the compressive strength even ... / Mestre