Análise técnico-econômica-ambiental da produção de nanocelulose em biorrefinarias de cana-de-açúcar
Abstract
The production of ethanol, sugar and energy in Brazilian sugarcane biorefineries
generates a large number of residues, such as bagasse and straw. An alternative is the
reuse of these residues as feedstock for obtaining cellulose nanomaterials, high valueadded
biomaterials with innovative applications in several sectors and projection of great
market growth in the coming years. However, the economic and environmental potential
of nanocellulose production technologies from sugarcane residues still need to be
evaluated to subsidize investments in this sector. Thus, this work aims to evaluate the
technical, economic and environmental feasibilities of different process routes for
obtaining cellulose nanomaterials in a process unit attached to a sugarcane biorefinery.
For this, process modeling and analysis tools were applied, using previous data obtained
in literature and field experts’ information. Mass and energy balances were developed for
different Case Studies. The economic feasibility of these scenarios was evaluated by
calculating the MPSP (Minimum Product Selling Price) of nanocellulose that reaches the
Minimum Acceptable Rate of Return (MARR) arbitrated for the investment. In turn, the
Life Cycle Analysis of the processes indicated the technologies with the lower
environmental impacts. It is expected that this work generates results that indicate
investment opportunities for sugarcane biorefineries that plan to diversify their product
portfolio. Furthermore, researchers will be able to use the results to focus efforts on
optimizing the most viable routes towards increasing the productive potential of the
nanocellulose industry.
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