Production of second generation biofuels from sugar cane - Modeling and energetic and exergetic assessment of the integrated process.

Abstract

Ethanol production tends to grow in coming years due to the great interest that many countries have been given by biofuels. In this context the production of second generation biofuels like ethanol from enzymatic hydrolysis and the production of liquid fuels by the thermochemical route are presented as an alternative of great interest in the case of use, as inputs, sugarcane bagasse surplus and eventually sugarcane trash . Thus, these processes would significantly increase the productivity without the need to increase the planted area with sugarcane. Nevertheless, the introduction of these processes is presented as a real challenge, since the bagasse is the fuel of the current process and at the same time is the raw material for the new one. This project aims to: evaluate options for energy integration in production processes of second-generation biofuels to conventional ethanol production process as well as carry out the energetic and exergetic assessment of the integrated process, comparing the proposed technological routes.