Sugar extraction from cane requires shredding and crushing, both of which are energy
intensive activities. Cane shredders account for almost 30% of the total power requirements
for the juice extraction train in a sugar mill with four mills. Shredder hammers also wear
quickly during the crushing season and need to be regularly maintained or replaced.
Microwave pre-treatment of other plant based materials has resulted in significant reductions
in total processing energy. This paper briefly reviews the underlying structure of sugar cane …

Mechanical shredders are used to rupture the storage parenchyma cells in the pith of the
sugarcane stalk to facilitate extraction of the cane juice through the milling tandem. The cane
shredder accounts for approximately 20% of the total energy balance in a sugar mill.
Shredder hammers also wear quickly during the crushing season and need to be regularly
maintained or replaced. These maintenance events interrupt the production schedule of the
mill. Studies reported in the literature have revealed that applying intense microwave energy …