Ethanol Supply Research Articles

How Green Is Sugarcane Ethanol?

Abstract Biofuels offer one approach for reducing carbon emissions. However, the necessary agricultural expansion may endanger tropical forests. I use a dynamic model of land use to disentangle the roles of acreage and yields in the supply of sugarcane ethanol in Brazil. The model is estimated using remote sensing (satellite) information of sugarcane activities. Estimates imply that, at the margin, 92% of new ethanol comes from increases in area and only 8% from increases in yield. Direct deforestation accounts for 19% of area expansion at the margin in the long run. I further assess carbon emissions and deforestation implications from ethanol policies.

Optimization and benefit analysis of the supply chain for sweet sorghum bioenergy production in China

<p>Bio-liquid fuel is one of the effective ways to alleviate energy shortages and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sweet sorghum, as an energy crop used in fuel ethanol production, has enormous potential for development. However, due to seasonality, vulnerability, and logistical scheduling costs during transportation, the sweet sorghum ethanol supply chain faces significant difficulties and challenges in its development. To address the research gap, this paper proposes a multi-objective sustainable supply chain optimization model for Chinese sweet sorghum bioenergy based on mixed-integer linear programming. In this framework, the crop growth process model is first spatially extended to obtain the feedstock sources of the sweet sorghum ethanol supply chain. Then a site selection model for the feedstock collection stations and ethanol processing plants is constructed based on the geographic information system (GIS) to determine the candidate locations of the basic units of the sweet sorghum ethanol supply chain. Finally, a multi-objective supply chain optimization model based on the mixed-integer linear programming methodology is created to achieve the sweet sorghum ethanol supply chain layout and optimization at the national level. This framework takes into account the fuel ethanol market demand in China and the current state of the sweet sorghum ethanol supply chain industry, achieving national-level layout and optimization of the sweet sorghum ethanol supply chain. The total aboveground biomass (dry weight) of sweet sorghum on marginal land in China can be converted into approximately 37.212 million tons of fuel ethanol production, meeting the requirement to promote a nationwide 10% substitution rate for automotive ethanol gasoline. The lowest-cost supply chain layout scheme suggests establishing large ethanol processing plants near the Hu Huanyong Line, as this area benefits from abundant sweet sorghum yield on marginal lands and lower east-west direction transportation costs. However, the lowest carbon emission supply chain layout scheme recommends reducing the raw material supply area and increasing the ethanol transportation route to lower carbon emissions. The results of the sensitivity analyses indicate that lowering feedstock production and increasing ethanol demand increases the overall cost and carbon emissions of the sweet sorghum ethanol supply chain, while using rail transportation methods, increasing feedstock production, and decreasing ethanol demand reduces costs and carbon emissions.</p>

Integrated biogas upgrading and medium-chain fatty acids production for more efficient resource recovery

The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) from biogas into medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) represents an eco-friendly resource recovery approach to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat global climate change. This study presented the novel concept of integrated resource recovery by coupling biogas upgrading and MCFAs production for the first time. Initially, the impact of different initial ethanol concentrations on chain elongation was examined, determining that an ethanol concentration of 160 mmol/L maximized MCFAs yield at 45.7 mmol/L. Subsequently, using this optimal ethanol supply, the integrated strategy was implemented by connecting two bioreactors in series and maintaining continuous operation for 160-day. The results were noteworthy: upgraded bio-methane purity reached 97.6 %, MCFAs production rate and carbon-flow distribution reached 24.5 mmol/L d−1 and 76.1 %, respectively. In summary, these promising outcomes pioneer a resource recovery approach, enabling the high-value utilization of biogas and the conversion of CO2 into valuable bio-chemicals.

Результаты исследований по снижению вредных выбросов судового дизеля путем подачи в цилиндр добавочных компонентов

A study was conducted in order to reduce harmful emissions of marine diesel by feeding additional components into the cylinder due to stricter requirements for the level of harmful emissions from marine power plants. It is noted that it is most difficult to achieve compliance with environmental requirements for diesel engines that have been built for more than 20 years and have been operated on ships for a long time. The use of complex methods to improve their environmental characteristics can lead to a significant increase in the cost of measures to modernize them and increase operating costs. The supply of additional components to diesel cylinders to reduce harmful NOx and COx emissions is considered. The experiments were carried out on a marine diesel generator based on diesel 1H17.5/24 with the use of water and ethanol supply to the cylinder. As a result of high-pressure water supply, a 30% reduction in NOx was noted, and no reduction in COx was noted. When ethanol is supplied, it is revealed that there is a positive effect on the reduction of NOx, but there is an increase in CO and exhaust gas temperature, which does not make it possible to unambiguously determine the positive effect. Additional research is required on the use of ethanol and other components as additional components to improve the environmental performance (reduce emissions) of marine diesel engines. Conclusions are drawn about the possibility of using alcohol solutions, changing the amount and time of supply of ethanol and other additional components to obtain more effective indicators.

Building Agro-Industrial Capabilities in the Sugarcane Supply Chain in Brazil

Background: This study aims to explore how domestic entrepreneurs can benefit from the thriving global agribusiness by establishing themselves in agro-industrial segments that can best remunerate capital and labour. The ways in which domestic entrepreneurs in Brazil enter different segments of the agribusiness industry were assessed with specific attention to implications for the development of local agro-industrial capabilities. Methods: We assessed the current market share of domestic companies in relation to foreign multinationals in various segments of the sugar and ethanol supply chain in Brazil. Results: Foreign multinationals are market leaders in the fertilizers, machinery and trading segments (domestic companies market share is 20.3%, 33.3% and 42.9% in those segments respectively). However, Brazilian companies have achieved higher market share in segments such as plant breeding, sugarcane processing and farming (domestic market share is 93.2%, 67.4% and 75.5% respectively). Plant breeding, farming and trading benefit from governmental support in research, subsidized credits and market policies respectively. Conclusions: By investing in agro-industrial sectors developing countries can benefit from agribusiness expansion for their economic growth. Investments in science and technology and domestic regulatory actions can help to build country capabilities, although the impacts are sometimes limited to the agro-industrial sectors where domestic companies are more competitive. These lessons can help other developing countries to assess their opportunities and challenges for agro-industrial development.

Periodic ethanol supply as a path toward unlimited lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larvae.

The dauer larva is a specialized stage of worm development optimized for survival under harsh conditions that have been used as a model for stress resistance, metabolic adaptations, and longevity. Recent findings suggest that the dauer larva of Caenorhabditis elegans may utilize external ethanol as an energy source to extend their lifespan. It was shown that while ethanol may serve as an effectively infinite source of energy, some toxic compounds accumulating as byproducts of its metabolism may lead to the damage of mitochondria and thus limit the lifespan of larvae. A minimal mathematical model was proposed to explain the connection between the lifespan of a dauer larva and its ethanol metabolism. To explore theoretically if it is possible to extend even further the lifespan of dauer larvae, we incorporated two natural mechanisms describing the recovery of damaged mitochondria and elimination of toxic compounds, which were previously omitted in the model. Numerical simulations of the revised model suggested that while the ethanol concentration is constant, the lifespan still stays limited. However, if ethanol is supplied periodically, with a suitable frequency and amplitude, the dauer could survive as long as we observe the system. Analytical methods further help to explain how feeding frequency and amplitude affect lifespan extension. Based on the comparison of the model with experimental data for fixed ethanol concentration, we proposed the range of feeding protocols that could lead to even longer dauer survival and it can be tested experimentally.

Sweet Fuel: A Political and Environmental History of Brazilian Ethanol

Sweet Fuel: A Political and Environmental History of Brazilian Ethanol

Revenue maximization and pricing: an ethanol supply chain and logistical strategy perspectives

Revenue maximization and pricing: an ethanol supply chain and logistical strategy perspectives

Integrated ethanol and gasoline supply chain planning under environmental constraints: A case study of Brazil

The petroleum infrastructure, hydrocarbon costs, and process and distribution networks influence integrated supply chains of mixed biofuels and petroleum derivatives (gasoline and diesel). Furthermore, the seasonality of biomass feedstock poses more complexities when optimizing such a combined bio-fossil-fuel industry. As such, a multi-period mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) planning model proposal addresses this supply chain mixed fuels, whereby strategic and tactical decisions under environmental constraints account for different process design in response to demand fluctuations along the long-term horizon. This work is applied in the bio-fossil-fuel market in Brazil by considering diverse plant configurations and different feedstock with their seasonality. Results yield an optimal facility location and plant configurations optimizing over time the evolution of installed capacities, capacity utilization, carbon credit and emissions profiles. The study involves ethanol streams to be added in the gasoline mix considering exclusive and flex sugarcane and corn-based processing plants.

Effect of Endogenous and Exogenous Butyric Acid on Butanol Production From CO by Enriched Clostridia.

Butanol is a potential renewable fuel. To increase the selectivity for butanol during CO fermentation, exogenous acetic acid and ethanol, exogenous butyric acid or endogenous butyric acid from glucose fermentation have been investigated using CO as reducing power, with a highly enriched Clostridium sludge. Addition of 3.2 g/L exogenous butyric acid led to the highest 1.9 g/L butanol concentration with a conversion efficiency of 67%. With exogenous acetate and ethanol supply, the butanol concentration reached 1.6 g/L at the end of the incubation. However, the presence of acetic acid and ethanol favoured butanol production to 2.6 g/L from exogenous butyric acid by the enriched sludge. Finally, exogenous 14 g/L butyric acid yielded the highest butanol production of 3.4 g/L, which was also among the highest butanol concentration from CO/syngas fermentation reported so far. CO addition triggered butanol production from endogenous butyric acid (produced from glucose, Glucose + N2) with as high as 58.6% conversion efficiency and 62.1% butanol yield. However, no efficient butanol production was found from glucose and CO co-fermentation (Glucose + CO), although a similar amount of endogenous butyric acid was produced compared to Glucose + N2. The Clostridium genus occupied a relative abundance as high as 82% from the initial inoculum, while the Clostridia and Bacilli classes were both enriched and dominated in Glucose + N2 and Glucose + CO incubations. This study shows that the supply of butyric acid is a possible strategy for enhancing butanol production by CO fed anaerobic sludge, either via exogenous butyric acid, or via endogenous production by sugar fermentation.

How did COVID-19 affect green-fuel supply chain? - A performance analysis of Brazilian ethanol sector

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many supply chains worldwide, including the Brazilian green-fuel ethanol supply chain. Our analysis considered sustainability variables (social, environmental, and economic) to investigate the pandemic's effects on the ethanol industries of 15 ethanol producing Brazilian states, comparing data from 2020 to 2019 and applying a novel Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA): the Double Frontier Slack-Based Measure Malmquist Productivity Index (DF-SBM MPI). The findings show that all states suffered negative impacts from the pandemic and some incurred a risk of collapsing it. The least negatively impacted states were São Paulo and Mato Grosso. São Paulo's ethanol sector is a benchmark for income derived from trade in carbon-credits by RenovaBio certified mills, while Mato Grosso's sector is able to take advantage of the largest spread between ethanol and gasoline prices, certainly a competitive advantage for ethanol producers. We recommend the implementation of public policies to support, mainly, the most affected states by assisting their mills to become environmentally certified participants to take advantage of income opportunities available in the carbon-credit trading market. We recommend, among other actions, a temporary ethanol sales tax reduction, an extension of debt repayment schedules, and stimulating an increase in the fleet of flex-fuel vehicles.

Transformation of nitrogen during microalgae model compounds liquefaction in sub-/supercritical ethanol

Nitrogen migration significantly affects the quality of bio-oil and the emission characteristics of pollutants during microalgae thermochemical transformation. To investigate the nitrogen migration and transformation of the main components of microalgae during liquefaction in sub- or supercritical ethanol, three model compounds (soya protein, castor oil, and corn starch) were selected to explore the interaction among various biochemical components and organic solvent at 220 °C and 260 °C. The nitrogen contents in the products were accurately quantified and characterized by GC–MS, element analysis, XPS, and FTIR analysis. The results imply that the addition of castor oil has a negligible effect on the nitrogen transformation during liquefaction, while corn starch promotes more than 22.16 wt% of the nitrogen transfer into the solid residue. Pyrrolidinone is the main nitrogen-containing compound in the oil products; neither pyridine-N nor nitrile-N are detected. It indicates that the hydrogen supply of ethanol is also suitable for the addition of C-N unsaturated bonds in bio-oils. The model compounds containing corn starch generate pyrazines only at the higher temperature and pressure.

Analysis of the impact of electric vehicle policy on supply and demand of U.S. states bioethanol market

This study aims to construct a quantitative model of the dynamic influence of electric vehicle sales in the United States on bioethanol consumption and bioethanol production. The final research results have shown that there is a long-term equilibrium relationship in our multivariate vector autoregression (VAR) model between bioethanol consumption and bioethanol production, gasoline price, corn price, and electric vehicle sales. It can be seen from the impulse response analysis that ethanol demand will strongly respond to one standard deviation of electric vehicle sales, and our new model fits the real data of ethanol supply and demand deviation well. Based on this newly long-term equilibrium relationship, we have constructed a policy simulation model to describe the quantitative relationship between the changes in the electric vehicle policy of each state and the temporal and spatial pattern of the national bioethanol resource allocation among US states. It can help and serve as a reference tool for policy makers to conduct quantitative policy evaluation.

Bioactive Sugarcane Lipids in a Circular Economy Context.

Most of the global sugar and ethanol supply trade comes from the harvesting of Saccharum officinarum (i.e., sugarcane). Its industrial processing results in numerous by-products and waste streams, such as tops, straw, filter cake, molasses and bagasse. The recovery of lipids (i.e., octacosanol, phytosterols, long-chain aldehydes and triterpenoids) from these residues is an excellent starting point for the development of new products for various application fields, such as health and well-being, representing an important feature of the circular economy. By selecting green scalable extraction procedures, industry can reduce its environmental impact. Refluxed ethanol extraction methods have been demonstrated to meet these characteristics. On the other hand, effective non-solvent methodologies such as molecular distillation and supercritical CO2 extraction can fractionate lipids based on high temperature and pressure application with similar yields. Sugarcane lipophilic extracts are usually analyzed through gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) techniques. In many cases, the identification of such compounds involves the development of high-temperature GC–MS/FID techniques. On the other hand, for the identification and quantification of thermolabile lipids, LC–MS techniques are suitable for the separation and identification of major lipid classes. Generically, its composition includes terpenes, phytosterols, tocopherol, free fatty acids, fatty alcohols, wax esters, triglycerides, diglycerides and monoglycerides. These compounds are already known for their interesting application in various fields such as pharma and cosmetics due to their anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-hyperglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Componentes de rendimento em genótipos de sorgo sacarino

O sorgo sacarino assemelha-se à cana-de-açúcar por apresentar colmos suculentos e altos teores de açúcares fermentescíveis, a cultura é uma fonte renovável capaz de contribuir para o aumento da produção de etanol na entressafra canavieira. Desta forma, o sorgo sacarino torna-se uma cultura complementar na usina, a fim de manter e/ou aumentar a oferta de etanol no mercado. Diante do exposto, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o potencial agronômico de genótipos de sorgo sacarino baseado em características morfoagronômicas. Foram avaliados 25 genótipos de sorgo sacarino em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com três repetições, avaliando nove características morfoagronômicas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e ao teste de Scott-Knott a 1% de probabilidade, também foram estimados os coeficientes de correlação entre as características, pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. Com base nos resultados, pode-se concluir que existe variabilidade entre os genótipos de sorgo sacarino para as características morfoagronômicas avaliadas. Os genótipos CMSXS642, CMSXS646 e CMSXS647 apresentaram melhor desempenho em relação às características avaliadas, mostrando-se bastante promissores para a produção de etanol.

Dual fuel ethanol port injection in a compression ignition diesel engine: Technical analysis, environmental behavior, and economic viability

The increase in prices, dependence on fossil fuels, and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, and strict emissions regulations have motivated researchers to look for low carbon renewable fuels for internal combustion engines. Ethanol is one of these fuels due to its presence in the energy matrix of several countries. Among the methods applied to use ethanol in compression ignition engines, the primary technique currently studied is port fuel injection (PFI). This research studies the feasibility of using ethanol as a partial fuel in a generator set analyzed beyond the technical and environmental parameters and the economic aspect. The experiments were conducted in a diesel single-cylinder engine, with its original diesel fuel direct injection system, and added an auxiliary PFI system for the ethanol supply. The research gap is based on the lack of studies that include, in addition to the analysis of performance parameters and gaseous emissions, the economic viability assessment for the studied engine, which is also a fundamental factor in an actual application. The engine was tested under different conditions of six progressive replacements of diesel fuel by ethanol, starting only with diesel fuel (baseline test) and increasing ethanol mass fraction up to 0.634. The measured data showed that ethanol effectively increased ignition delay and reduced combustion duration, which did not lead to increased efficiency and reduced fuel consumption. The maximum in-cylinder pressure was 71.3 bar in the baseline test and dropped progressively to 51.6 bar when in the most significant substitution. The rate of heat release increased by about 92.5% with ethanol concerning the baseline test. When ethanol was used, the CO emissions decreased by up to 43%, resulting in about 2.4 g/kWh, while NOx emissions reduced by up to 20% compared to the baseline test, achieving 0.69 g/kWh. The economic analysis made it clear that the operational cost increased when the engine worked with ethanol replacing partially diesel fuel. However, with a slight increase in operational cost, especially in São Paulo (SP) state, it is possible to reduce pollutant emissions. For the baseline test, the operating cost was 0.354 U$/kWh. The specific fuel cost reaches a maximum of 0.441 U$/kWh, 25% higher than the respective baseline test, increasing ethanol fraction.

Bioethanol prospect from agricultural crops and its biomass in Indonesia

Contradiction between the surplus domestic bioethanol supply and the failure to fulfill the bioethanol E2 biofuel program in 2020 is because the fuel grade ethanol price is still more expensive than gasoline. Indonesia’s fuel consumption needs, especially gasoline is increased from 37.49 million kL in 2020 to 43.59 million kL in 2025, with a deficit that is met with gasoline imports. Bioethanol production is still in surplus, the remainder is exported, still unable to supply the E2 bioethanol program and the import of non-fuel-grade ethanol is carried out. The abundance of mollase is not only the main raw material for bioethanol, but it is in competition with other industries such as MSG, and the decline in sugar cane land will reduce the availability of mollase in the future. In 2015, world bioethanol produces 1,390 million liter from 2G bioethanol, still in TRL4~TRL8 status, yet to commercial. To maintain ethanol supply security, potential biomass and waste-crops, and a lot of available sources that are not in competition with food needs, technological aspects, productivity, availability, and other aspects, biomass commodities need to continue to be developed with more intensive collaboration between institutions (academic, government, private). This study assesses the greatest potential of non-food biomass in Indonesia, including the 2nd generation bioethanol, 3rd generation, and the current biggest challenge in the readiness and maturity of the technology and its economic feasibility.

CO2 Emissions from Fuel Consumption in the Logistic Stages of the Brazilian Bioethanol Supply Chain

The study reports the CO2 emissions from diesel combustion in the following stages of the Brazilian ethanol supply chain: (a) agricultural operations (management), (b) sugarcane transportation to the mill, and (c) biofuel transportation to the destination. To assess the sensitivity of the results to different origins, five regions representative of ethanol production were selected, and the final destination was the port of Santos. The transportation stage from the mill to the port included the possible effects of using multimodal alternatives, such as road–rail and road–pipeline. The results indicate that diesel consumption varies greatly by region of origin, and agricultural management, such as tilling, planting, and harvesting operations, accounts for about 70% of total diesel emissions to the ethanol supply chain. Rail and pipeline transportation are ultimately important for mitigating emissions from fuel consumption in logistics corridors for exporting ethanol. It is a valuable contribution to supporting private actions and public policies related to the mitigation of emissions in the logistic stages of bioethanol, especially related to the optimization of the agricultural management process and improvement of the multimodal transport infrastructure, respectively. It is also a lesson to countries intending to produce ethanol from sugarcane.

Unique water scarcity footprints and water risks in US meat and ethanol supply chains identified via subnational commodity flows

Within the US, supply chains aggregate agricultural production and associated environmental impacts in specific downstream products and companies. This is particularly important for meat and ethanol, which consume nearly half of global crop production as feed and feedstocks. However, lack of data has thus far limited the ability to trace inputs and impacts of commodity crops through domestic supply chains. For the first time, we use a commodity-flow model to link spatially distributed water resource impacts of corn and soy to individual meat and ethanol processing facilities. This creates transparency in the supply chains, illuminating substantial variation in embedded irrigation water and water scarcity footprints among meat and ethanol processed at different facilities. By calculating unique blue water scarcity footprints for end-products, we show that beef processed in Iowa or Illinois, for example, has fewer water impacts than chicken processed in California and pork processed in Oklahoma. We find that over 75% of irrigated feed embedded in meat is consolidated in six companies and 39% of irrigated feedstock for ethanol is consolidated in five companies, with potentially negative impacts to supply costs and risk management. This subnational variation and consolidation of impacts in key supply chains creates opportunities for producers and consumers of agriculture-based products to make management, investment, and sustainability decisions about those products.

Industrialization of Cassava Sector in Ghana: Progress and the Role of Developing High Starch Cassava Varieties

In Ghana, cassava is a marginalized crop in food policies due to low research attention given it. However, high starch in cassava root is an important characteristic that makes the crop a potential industrial cash crop. In light of this, the Government of Ghana in 2001 introduced the Presidential Special Initiative (PSI) on Cassava, which aimed at industrializing the cassava sector for job creation and livelihood improvement through starch extraction. One of the import industrial products from cassava starch is ethanol. Ethanol is reported as the largest opportunity for cassava industrialization in Ghana followed by food-grade starch. However, the local ethanol consuming industry, Kasapreko, operates by importing over 25 million litres of ethanol every year due to inadequate supply of ethanol from local starch factories. This situation exists because of lack of cassava varieties that can yield more starch (75% or more) per total dry weight to feed the starch factories for sustainable production. Therefore, this review explores the relevance of developing high starch yielding cassava to the industrialization of the cassava sector in Ghana and lessons to learn from the success story of Thailand, the country with the world’s most industrialized cassava sector.