Opportunities and challenges for the use of cleaner production to reduce water consumption in Brazilian sugar-energy plants

Abstract

a b s t r a c tWater is a finite and scarce resource that has gained importance in the global economic scenario. The sugar-energy plants use water intensively for the development of their activities, which demands that their top management incorporate actions to reduce or eliminate the use of this resource. In Brazil, the annual production of sugarcane is over 650 million tons/year and, on average, 1.18 m 3 of water is consumed per ton of processed sugarcane. Given this, it is important to look for alternatives that allow the reduction of the volumes of water collection and use in Brazilian sugar-energy plants. The objective of this paper is to identify opportunities and challenges for using Cleaner Production (CP) to reduce water consumption in brazilian sugar-energy plants. To carry out this study, four case studies were conducted, whose data collection was based on semi-structured interviews with plant managers, document analysis and on-site visits. The case studies were analyzed individually, and then their cross-analysis were conducted in order to understand and present them in a transversal way to all the companies studied. Among the opportunities for improvement identified are the use of dry cleaning system for sugarcane cleaning, the classification and analysis of effluents, the analysis of the water consumption in the processes and the use of the system of concentration of vinasse. The main scientific contribution of this study is the systematization of CP interventions to reduce water consumption in sugar-energy plants, which expands the existing theory. The results of this work revealed that the opportunities and challenges presented may help companies to reduce considerably the volume of water used in their production systems, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment and the development of future generations.

Community of natural lactic acid bacteria and silage fermentation of corn stover and sugarcane tops in Africa

“…When corn is harvested for grain, more than 40% dry matter (DM) of the corn plant, including the leaves, stalks, husks, and cobs, are discarded in the field [5]. Sugarcane top as residue represent 15% to 25% of the aerial part of the plant [6]. Therefore, corn stover and sugarcane tops are among the main agricultural by-products produced in Africa, but they are generally discarded in the field, where they are often burned and used as fertilizer [7].…”

Governança de integração para a cadeia de suprimentos do setor sucroenergérico / Integration governance for the sugar energy sector supply chain

“…(i) recepção e limpeza da cana-de-açúcar; (ii) extração do caldo (por meio de moagem ou difusão); (iii) tratamento / evaporação e purificação do caldo: peneiramento e esclarecimento. Na sequência dos estágios iniciais, para a produção de açúcar, as próximas etapas são necessárias: (iv) turbinação e cozimento; (v) cristalização do açúcar; (vi) filtração, arrefecimento e secagem para separação entre cristais e massa cozida (demerara e açúcar branco) (GONÇALES FILHO et al 2018). Para a produção de etanol, as seguintes etapas são essenciais: (iv) fermentação do caldo; (v) destilação de vinho; (vi) desidratação: etanol carburante ou álcool anidro / hidratado (RODRIGUES et al 2014).…”

Gestão da cadeia de suprimentos: estudo de casos sobre tecnologia da informação e comunicação na região de Piracicaba-SP – Brasil / Supply chain management: case study on information and communication technology in the region of Piracicaba-SP – Brazil

“…Ambos os produtos têm os mesmos estágios iniciais de produção, que são: i) recepção e limpeza da cana-de-açúcar; ii) extração do caldo (por meio de moagem ou difusão); iii) tratamento / evaporação e purificação do caldo, peneiramento e clareamento. Para a produção de açúcar, outras etapas são necessárias: iv) turbinação e cozimento; v) cristalização do açúcar; vi) filtração, arrefecimento e secagem para separação entre cristais e massa cozida (demerara e açúcar branco) (GONÇALES FILHO et al 2018). Para a produção de etanol, outras etapas são necessárias: iv) fermentação do caldo; v) destilação de vinho; vi) desidratação, e produção de etanol carburante e álcool anidro (RODRIGUES et al, 2014).…”