Encontro de Energia no Meio Rural

Resumen

TEIXEIRA, Lincoln C. y ROSENSTIEL, Ralph O. H. Processo inovado para conversão de biomassa lignocelulósica em álcool, biogás e fertilizante natural. In Anales del 4º Encontro de Energia no Meio Rural, 2002, Campinas (SP) [online]. 2002 [citado 30 Abril 2024]. Disponible en: <http://www.proceedings.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=MSC0000000022002000200043&lng=es&nrm=iso> .

Sugar cane bagasse (SCB) is currently been used as a solid fuel, despite carcinogenic emissions and risk for the environment. Liquid fuels and biogas burn completely that makes bioconversion systems more attractive for the environment. Based on these facts, we have developed a process where bagasse is firstly treated with steam at high temperature e pressure for pentoses removal. Around 80% of total hemicellulose might be easily removed and converted to ethanol by yeast fermentation. One metric ton of dried biomass might generate approximately 150 L of ethanol (94%). In order to complete the process, the residual cellulose-lignin solid fraction is mixed with vinasses for biogas production. The pre-treatment is very beneficial for increasing biogas yield and CH₄/CO₂ ratio. In addition, at the end of the process, we obtain a neutral and safe fertilizer, of very fast absorption, that could be send back to the crops without bad smelling characteristic of crude vinasses in decomposition. Municipal solid waste (MSW) might be used as well shortening time of composting with additional liquid fuel production. The proposed approach satisfies the international guidelines for a sustainable development by using cleanest technologies.

Palabras llave : Biomassa; fermentação; etanol; biogás; fertilizante.