Sustainable sugarcane vinasse biorefinement for trans-aconitic acid-based biopolymer synthesis and bioenergy generation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2021.100786
• Publication Date: 2021-07-31T04:36:36Z
• Authors: Guillermo Montoya; Maria I. Gutierrez; Juan D. Giraldo; Luis D. Jaramillo; Jeyson Ruiz-Sandoval; Sandra Orozco; Ferley Orozco; John Ward; Giovanni Rojas; Maria F. Villegas...
• Keywords: Bioproducts; Vinasse; Biogas; Biopolymer

This study aimed at developing a multiproduct biorefinery scheme for vinase valorization. It involved the extraction of trans-aconitic acid, its transformation into biopolymers using microwave irradiation and use raffinated-vinasse biogas production. Each technology was assessed individually, followed by process integration bench scale, from which mass balance calculated, supporting feasibility approach. As renewable source derived residue, these bioproducts can replace crude-oil-based materials in various chemical industrial processes; however, detailed techno-economic life-cycle analysis are required to defined sustainability process.