Anaerobic digestion of stillage to produce bioenergy in the sugarcane-to-ethanol industry

Stillage is the main wastewater from ethanol production, containing a high chemical oxygen demand in addition to acidic and corrosive characteristics. Though stillage may be used as a soil fertilizer, its land application may be considered problematic due its high polluting potential. Anaerobic digestion represents an effective alternative treatment to reduce the pollution load of stillage. In addition, the methane gas produced within the process may be converted to energy, which can be directly applied to the treatment plant. The objective of this paper was to investigate the energetic potential of anaerobic digestion applied to stillage in the sugarcane ethanol industry. An overall analysis of the results indicates energy recovery capacity (ERC) values for methane ranging from 3.5% to 10%, respectively, for sugarcane juice and molasses. The processes employed to obtain the fermentable broth, as well as the distillation step, represent the main limiting factors to the energetic potential feasibility. Considering financial aspects the annual savings could reach up to US$ 30 million due to anaerobic digestion of stillage in relatively large-scale distilleries (365,000 m3 of ethanol per year). The best scenarios were verified for the association between anaerobic digestion of stillage and combustion of bagasse. In this case, the fossil fuels consumption in distilleries could be fully ceased, such the ERC of methane could reach values ranging from 140% to 890%. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Aplicações de sistemas multiagentes na previsão espacial de demanda elétrica em sistemas de distribuição

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Carregamento ótimo de veículos elétricos considerando as restrições das redes de distribuição de média tensão

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Latin American supply and major world market demand for the principal metals, 1970-1990: aluminium, copper, iron, nickel, lead, zinc, tin

Includes bibliography

Demanda de maquinaria y equipo de la minería metalífera en algunos países de América Latina = Demand for machinery and equipment by the metal mining industry in some countries of Latin America

Incluye Bibliografía

Información para la gestión de riesgo de desastres: Estudio de caso de cinco países: Chile

Incluye Bibliografía

Methodological report on the impacts of different socio-economic scenarios on population patterns in Bolivia

Incluye Bibliografía

The economics of climate change in Central America: summary 2010

Includes Bibliography

Shipping suply and demand, biennium 2008 - 2009

This edition of the FAL Bulletin analyses the performance of the shipping industry during the biennium 2008-2009 in its three main markets: containers, dry-bulk cargoes and liquid bulk (oil and its derivatives).

Changes in maritime transport supply and demand

This FAL bulletin reviews changes in water transport supply and demand in three markets: containers, dry bulk and liquid cargo (dirty and clean) over the past several years.

Towards diversification of the tourism sector: A recreational demand study of yachting and marina services in the Caribbean

Includes bibliography.

Social mobility and the demand for income redistribution in Latin America

Includes bibliography