Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Production potential of biogas in sugar and ethanol plants for use in urban buses in Brazil

Author(s):

Samuel Nelson Melegari de Souza *, Augustinho Borsoi, Reginaldo Ferreira Santos, Deonir Secco, Elisandro Pires Frigo, Marcelo José da Silva

Recieved Date: 2011-11-18, Accepted Date: 2012-01-03

Abstract:

Brazil is one of the major producers of ethanol and sugar  in the world. Ethanol has been used as a renewable fuel in passenger vehicles, decreasing the levels of pollution in big cities  like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. On the other hand,  sugarcane ethanol plants produce a waste of vinasse, which is used as organic fertilizer in  cane plantations which causes soil and water contamination. The anaerobic digestion treatment can be used to reduce the pollution vinasse and, concomitantly, to increase the production of biogas. This essay intended to reflect/discuss about the potential of biogas production from the anaerobic digestion of vinasse in Brazil, and the availability of its use in urban buses as gas fuel. Brazilian urban buses are using natural gas as fuel in big cities  like Rio de Janeiro, but diesel prevails in most of the cities, and biogas can be important to reduce the dependence of a  nonrenewable fuel in the country. The national potential for biogas production from vinasse could replace 50% of the urban bus fleet in Brazil. A big ethanol production plant has autonomy to supply 788 buses per day. 

Keywords:

Bioenergy, fuel, vinasse waste

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 908-910

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