Development of an integrated environment for simulation and static optimization of the production of ethanol from sugarcane bagasse through a biochemical route

Abstract

Bioprocess Systems Engineering (BSE) may be an important tool for the development of processes for production of ethanol from lignocellulosic materials. Such processes are very complex, due to the number of routes that have to be assessed, since this is still a non-consolidated technology.The complexity of the substrate and reactions involved also contribute to the difficulty of the problem. Economical and environmental questions must also be taken into account, since sustainability is a major issue for the definition of new energetic matrices nowadays. In the specific case of the production of ethanol from sugarcane bagasse, BSE has an importante role in the study of each separate stage of the process (pre-treatment, hydrolysis and fermentation, separation and purification), and in the efficient integration of these stages as well. In order to consolidate this technology in industry, a positive C balance is not enough. Economical feasibility is demanded. Thus, a complex optimization problem appears, including non-linear equations with constraints. The solution of this problem demands specific numerical methods and computational tools. The development of a software linking these algorithms in a user-friendly environment is a point of great interest, thus.Hence, this project intends to develop, implement and validate a first version of an applicative for simulation, stationary optimization e economic evaluation of the production of ethanol from sugarcane bagasse. For case study, the enzymatic hydrolysis and alcoholic fermentation by S. cerevisiae were chosen. This proposal is part of the thematic project BIOPROCESS SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (BSE) APPLIED TO THE PRODUCTION OF BIOETHANOL FROM SUGARCANE BAGASSE(proc. 2008/56246-0), recently approved by FAPESP, within the BIOEN program. In this way, the MSc student will interact with different groups that will be running experimental assays, in order to provide the necessary data for validation of the models, initially in bench scale. This work will be carried on in the Laboratory for Development and Automation of Bioprocesses (LaDABio), of the Department of Chemical Engineering of UFSCar, coordinated by Prof. Roberto de Campos Giordano, who is also the supervisor of this dissertation. The Laboratory of Enzymatic Processes Engineering (LabEnz), coordinated by Prof. Raquel Giordano, from UFSCar, and the Loboratory of Bioprocesses, from EMBRAPA Instrumentation, coordinated by Dr. Cristiane Sanches Farinas, will cooperate providing experimental data, as well. (AU)