Technical and economic evaluation of the integration of sustainable processes for a better use of brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia glomerata)

Abstract

The refinery concept applies to the full use of biomass, employing physical and/ or chemical treatments for the production of several commercial products of higher added value. The sugarcane industry in Brazil, according to some experts, is only a pioneer of future "biorefineries". The growing number of technologies being developed in order to produce different products with high added value such as plant extracts, ethanol and other chemicals from biomass, represents an important aspect that needs to be truly analyzed, especially from the economical point of view. The use of environmentally friendly pressurized fluid technologies to obtain products from biomass has shown encouraging results. However, studies on the attainment of multiple products in an integrated system, combining different and sequenced processes with the use of multiple fluids, are essential for future "biorefineries" implementations. Based on all the knowledge of clean and innovative production technologies using pressurized fluids of the research group LASEFI / DEA / FEA / UNICAMP, the objective of this project is to open a new line of research in this laboratory. It will be carried out a technical and economic evaluation of pressurized fluid technological options in order to evaluate different combination of processes, seeking a full recovery of all parts of the Brazilian ginseng (root and aerial parts). The economic analysis of the integrated processes will be held using the commercial simulator SuperPro Designer ® and the experimental data obtained in this study, as well as with literature data. The technical analysis will be held using the laboratory equipments. Equipments modifications will be made for the development of new processes and/or combined processes, extending LASEFI's operation field, to areas such as: extraction and "in-line" particle formation, pre-hydrolysis and sequential hydrolysis of the extractions residues aiming the production of ethanol and other chemicals. Hence, it is expected to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of a future "biorefinery" based on pressurized fluids to the full use of ginseng biomass.