Economic Analysis of an Integrated Annatto Seeds-Sugarcane Biorefinery Using Supercritical CO2 Extraction as a First Step

Author(s)

Albarelli, Juliana Q. ^{[1, 2]} ; Santos, Diego T. ^{[1, 2]} ; Jose Cocero, Maria ^[1] ; Meireles, M. Angela A. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Valladolid, High Pressure Proc Grp, Dept Chem Engn & Environm Technol, Doctor Mergelina S-N, E-47005 Valladolid - Spain

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, UNICAMP, Sch Food Engn, LASEFI, DEA, FEA, Cidade Univ Zeferino Vaz, Rua Monteiro Lobato 80, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MATERIALS; v. 9, n. 6 JUN 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 9

Abstract

Recently, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has been indicated to be utilized as part of a biorefinery, rather than as a stand-alone technology, since besides extracting added value compounds selectively it has been shown to have a positive effect on the downstream processing of biomass. To this extent, this work evaluates economically the encouraging experimental results regarding the use of SFE during annatto seeds valorization. Additionally, other features were discussed such as the benefits of enhancing the bioactive compounds concentration through physical processes and of integrating the proposed annatto seeds biorefinery to a hypothetical sugarcane biorefinery, which produces its essential inputs, e.g., CO2, ethanol, heat and electricity. For this, first, different configurations were modeled and simulated using the commercial simulator Aspen Plus (R) to determine the mass and energy balances. Next, each configuration was economically assessed using MATLAB. SFE proved to be decisive to the economic feasibility of the proposed annatto seeds-sugarcane biorefinery concept. SFE pretreatment associated with sequential fine particles separation process enabled higher bixin-rich extract production using low-pressure solvent extraction method employing ethanol, meanwhile tocotrienols-rich extract is obtained as a first product. Nevertheless, the economic evaluation showed that increasing tocotrienols-rich extract production has a more pronounced positive impact on the economic viability of the concept. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/06954-1 - Development of an energetic self-sufficient and economically viable integrated sub/supercritical fluid-based biorefinery by the aid of computational modeling and simulation
• Grantee: Juliana Queiroz Albarelli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 12/10685-8 - Combination and coupling of processes for the production and encapsulation of value-added vegetal extracts: technical and economic evaluation
• Grantee: Maria Angela de Almeida Meireles Petenate
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/18114-2 - Integral utilization of biomasses using sub/supercritical fluids: environmental, energetic and economic assessment of technological scenarios
• Grantee: Juliana Queiroz Albarelli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/13299-0 - From seeds to final products: feasible manufacturing routes of annatto applying process intensification and process integration
• Grantee: Maria Angela de Almeida Meireles Petenate
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants