Virtual Sugarcane Biorefinery
This LNBR/CNPEM’s tool consists in a platform that allows the evaluation of economic and environmental impacts of technological routes in the context of biorefineries from renewable raw materials, with main focus on sugarcane. Thus, it can be used to measure the stage of development of new technologies, as well as to identify technological bottlenecks to promote their economic competitiveness and improve their environmental benefits. Among the technologies already evaluated w the Virtual Sugarcane Biorefinery are the production of ethanol from fermentable sugars and lignocellulosic materials, products derived from green chemistry and electricity from biomass. By considering the integration of the entire production chain (from biomass production to the final use of the products) and allowing technological assessment in the three axes of sustainability (economic, environmental and social), this platform is unique in the world.
The platform developed makes use of mathematical models and computational simulation tools that can be applied to customized assessments, allowing the integration of agricultural and industrial production systems. To this end, standardized and consolidated evaluation methodologies are employed, such as Techno-economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Key skills and techniques available:
- Modeling and simulation of agricultural processes (CANASOFT);
- Modeling and simulation of industrial processes (uses the commercial process simulation platform ASPEN PLUS);
- Life Cycle Assessment of biofuels, bioproducts and biomaterials;
- Techno-economic analysis of production chains integrated with the production of advanced biofuels.
Fundamental Bibliographical References
Virtual Biorefinery: An optimization strategy for renewable carbon valorization