Simulation of ethanol production from sugarcane juice and bagasse: evaluation of different operational scenarios

• Grant number: 07/03381-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2007
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal researcher: Rubens Maciel Filho
• Grantee: Hermann Josef Donley Bairão Simon
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The ethanol production as a fuel is a worldwide interest subject when carbon dioxide emissions are considered (environmental interest), as well as the oil barrel increasing price (economical interest). The use of ethanol as an additive in gasoline is a good option for CO2 emissions decrease. The use of sugarcane bagasse for ethanol production allows an increase in ethanol production capacity and the use of straw in energy generation, which also decreases CO2 emissions by avoiding straw burning. Besides, new ways of energy production from cleaner sources, such as biomass, are an answer to the appeal for sustainable actions. The alcohol generation from sugarcane biomass occurs through hydrolysis of its carbohydrate polymers, in order to transform them into fermentable sugars. Studies under research are looking for maximum biomass use from sugarcane, bagasse, straw and harvest residues for ethanol production. However, since the ethanol production is not made in an isolated unit, but inside a complete production plant, the optimization of the whole plant is searched. Due to the ethanol high demand estimations in the next years, studies that looks for its production maximization and the knowledge of how different operational conditions affect the productivity are very important. In this context it is inserted this project, which proposes, through simulations in the ASPEN simulator, to evaluate the impact of different operational scenarios in the quantity of ethanol produced by a plant, either from sugarcane juice and bagasse. This plant products anhydrous ethanol, and the dehydration occurs by absorption with monoethyleneglycol (MEG).