Environmental and economic assessment of sugarcane first generation biorefineries in Brazil

Abstract

The majority of current sugarcane mills in Brazil are annexed plants, producing both ethanol and sugar; the other plants are dedicated only to ethanol production (autonomous distilleries). This study focuses on the technical, environmental, and economic impacts of these first generation sugarcane processing facilities in Brazil using an innovative framework, the so called Virtual Sugarcane Biorefinery. Results showed that optimization technologies presents potential for reducing environmental impacts and improve economic results in comparison to base scenarios for both annexed and autonomous plants. It was also observed that annexed plants that diverted more sugarcane juice for sugar production were more profitable, considering the average prices for the past 10 years in Brazil. In addition, results indicate that scenarios considering more flexibility in annexed plant are more profitable than the conventional annexed one (diverting 50% of the sugarcane juice to sugar and 50% to ethanol production) if increases in prices were to occur. This study shows quantitatively the benefits of optimization techniques and allows understanding the real benefits of the sugarcane plant flexibility in the Brazilian context.

Influence of Pyrolysis Temperature on Cadmium and Zinc Sorption Capacity of Sugar Cane Straw–Derived Biochar

“…In Brazil, sugar cane processing facilities convert the feedstock (sugar cane) into a variety of products, such as sugar, bioethanol, electricity, and other by-products (Cavalett et al 2011). Brazil produced, in 2008, 415 million tons of sugar cane residues (wet biomass): 194 million tons of sugar cane bagasse and 220 million tons of sugar cane straw (Ferreira-Leitão et al 2010).…”

Estimating the elemental biomass composition of Desmodesmus sp. cultivated in sugarcane stillage

“…It is obtained from the bottom of the distillation column from 1G (first generation) and 2G (second generation) technologies at relative rates of 6-15 L stillage/L bioethanol [1][2][3]. While 1G sugarcane stillage disposal is regulated by law due to its toxic environmental impact, 2G sugarcane stillage is used for fertirrigation of the sugarcane field [2].…”

“…It is obtained from the bottom of the distillation column from 1G (first generation) and 2G (second generation) technologies at relative rates of 6-15 L stillage/L bioethanol [1][2][3]. While 1G sugarcane stillage disposal is regulated by law due to its toxic environmental impact, 2G sugarcane stillage is used for fertirrigation of the sugarcane field [2]. Fertirrigation, as a simple and inexpensive approach, was reported to have a negative environmental impact which can be more harmful especially concerning high dinitrogen monoxide (N 2 O) emissions [4].…”

Emissão de metano e microbiota funcional associadas a vinhaça de cana-de-açúcar em sistemas de armazenamento e transporte

“…Os valores representam a média (n=5) ± desvio padrão. Médias seguidas pelas mesmas letras minúsculas dentro de cada tratamento e letras maiúsculas dentro de cada período do experimento não diferem estatisticamente pelo teste de Tukey ao nível SEABRA et al, 2011;CAVALETT et al, 2012). No entanto, nenhuma delas incluiu as emissões de CH4 provenientes do armazenamento e transporte da vinhaça.…”