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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Environmental assessment of a standard distillery using aspen plus (R): Simulation and renewability analysis

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Author(s):
Silva, W. C. ; Araujo, E. C. C. ; Calmanovici, C. E. ; Bernardo, A. ; Giulietti, M.
Total Authors: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION; v. 162, p. 1442-1454, SEP 20 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 3
Abstract

This study investigates the sustainability of the first-generation ethanol production process using a water steam condensed stream reuse approach. Determination was made of the effective water collection of an autonomous distillery and opportunities for the reuse of water streams were identified. Given the importance of the distillation design and its impacts on sustainability, relevant problems and challenges are highlighted, and suggestions are made of ways to enhance the process. Simulations were carried out using the Aspen Plus simulator to perform mass and energy balances. Three case studies were investigated: distillation with use of a reboiler as heat source (Case I); conventional direct steam injection distillation (Case II); and distillation with mechanical vapour recompression (Case III). In all cases, environmental aspects were considered using WAR software and exergy concepts. A technical-economic evaluation of the distillation system was performed in order to identify the best design. The results showed that the use of closed circuits and water reuse streams provided an overall consumption of 673 L water/t of cane in the mill. This value is lower than the statutory limit of 1000 L/t of cane established for distilleries in the State of Sao Paulo. Furthermore, according to the results obtained using the WAR software and the concepts of exergy and renewability index, Case II and III were considered to provide worse environmental performance, compared to Case I. In addition, Case I achieved net revenue of US\$ 115 million, which was approximately 9% and 12% higher than achieved for Cases II and III, respectively. Therefore, it is environmentally and economically beneficial to employ a reboiler as a heat source in distillation systems, compared to conventional systems employed to produce bioethanol. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/50046-4 - Study of Integrated Process for Ethanol 1G Production and Recovery
Grantee:Alberto Colli Badino Junior
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE