Utilization of bagasse in brickmaking
Practical Action
Current Work on Bagasse
Many institutions have conducted research on bagasse waste utilization. Among these are the
Institute of Energy Research, Department of Forestry, Agriculture Development Eastern Sudan
(ADES) - a subsidiary of UNHCR, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and universities.
Research is centred on fuel block production and marketing.
ADES provides training for refugees in and around Girba on jobs they will need when they are
repatriated. A small bagasse block production factory owning 15 Terstaram compression
machines (made in Belgium), is situated near the sugar factory in New Halfa, although some of
the machines are not being used due to lack of demand for the blocks.
Mature and fresh loose bagasse and pit molasses, are mixed in the ratio of 7:2:1 by volume
respectively, and moulded and dried in the sun for seven days. Molasses - the binder, is bought
from the sugar factory at LS 20000 per ton and bagasse at LS 10000 per lorry load. One ton of
molasses produces 700-800 blocks and a ton of bagasse 2000 blocks. Cost of production of a
block is LS 75.
ADES has not gone beyond Halfa in marketing the blocks. Within the area households,
restaurants and brick producers are using the blocks but supply far exceeds demand. Brick
producers elsewhere, including Kassala and Girba, welcome the use of bagasse but fear the cost
of transport which is LS 180000 per lorry load to Kassala, for example.
One producer in Kassala is mixing brick clays with loose bagasse instead of cow dung, but is not
firing with blocks.
Objective of the Study
The objective of this study was to explore the potential for using bagasse as fuel in brickmaking.
The ultimate aim being reduction of energy cost in brick making and minimizing the negative
environmental effects of firing bricks with fuel-wood.
Four specific aspects of bagasse utilization were considered:
use of loose bagasse in brick clays
use of bagasse blocks in kiln tunnels
comparison of loose bagasse with cowdung as internal fuel in brick clays
comparison of blocks with fuel-wood as tunnel fuels.
Preparation for Firing
A team of 15 labourers (three
tables) was employed in the
production of 118000 bricks at
Kurmuta, west of Kassala town.
11 lorry loads (16393.50 kg) of
fuelwood (miskit) from Kassala,
8 lorry loads of loose bagasse
and 6000 blocks (7980 kg) from
Halfa were provided for the
production of bricks. Essential
production tools, including
Buller's bars for gauging firing
temperature, were also acquired.
Figure 2: A brick clamp kiln is shown near Kassala. Photo:
Theo Schilderman / Practical Action.
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