Post-Industrial Use of Sugarcane Ethanol Vinasse: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Vinasse is a toxic pollutant if it is poured into the ecosystem indiscriminately; despite this, it integrates components that make it valuable in nutrients and water. However, its use has been questioned due to the costs involved in its purification. This systematic review focuses on the valorization of vinasse from the studies performed for its post-industrial use. Trends in vinasse management and bioproduct development were analyzed. The PRISMA statement was used as a formal guide for collecting and analyzing 131 studies from 2018 to 2022. We determined that biological processes are the most used to obtain the benefits of vinasse, obtaining up to three post-industrial bioproducts. While it is true that there is a predominant trend of studies focused on the generation of biofuels, it must be noted that the beginning of the sucro-alcohol chain was the agricultural field. In this sense, we determine that 14% of the studies treat vinasse for agricultural reuse purposes, so, under Circular Economy principles, the reincorporation of vinasse into the agricultural field to take advantage of its goodness in nutrients and minerals as a sustainable and eco-efficient alternative should be a research trend that accelerates the consumption of vinasse generated in alcohol distilleries.

Contribution of Using Filter Cake and Vinasse as a Source of Nutrients for Sustainable Agriculture—A Review

“…Filter cake, also known as pressing mud, is a byproduct of the process of clarification and filtration of sugarcane juice after passing through a rotary filter [30]. It is composed of a mixture of ground sediment and crushed sludge, forming an organic compound with a large volume rich in organic matter, containing macronutrients in its composition [30,31]. [30].…”

Balancing Agriculture and Industry through Waste Utilization for Sugarcane Sustainability

“…This includes furfural, which can be further converted into various chemicals used in petrochemical, plastic, pharmaceutical, and agrochemical industries [60] (Santos et al, 2020). Several studies have revealed the possibility of using alcohol vinasse in the production of biofuels, biomedicine, food, cosmetics, and packaging [61] (Montiel-Rosales et al, 2022). The wax content in filter cakes can meet industrial requirements for use in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic, cleaning, and polishing industries [60] (Santos et al, 2020).…”

“…Previous studies have shown positive progress in using cane residues for biorefinery processes, resulting in a wide range of value-added products. However, there are concerns that current technologies may be expensive, slow, and environmentally unfriendly [60,61]. Therefore, intensive research into advanced technologies for bio-based product manufacturing and financial feasibility is essential.…”

Determination of Effectiveness of combined Biological and Physicochemical Treatment of Vinasse

“…The application of thermophilic anaerobic digestion is a logical choice for the treatment of sugarcane vinasse (industrial wastewater from ethanol production) because this process enables the recovery of energy as hydrogen and methane without requiring energy for heat or interfering in its quality as a bio-fertilizer (Montiel-Rosales et al, 2022;Júnior et al, 2016). In comparison to the single-phase process, Fuess et al (2021) and Yeoh (1997) investigated the thermophilic two-phase anaerobic treatment system of a canemolasses ethanol distillery using bioreactors for acidogenic and methanogenic phases.…”