Production Of Renewable Chemicals Research Articles

Electrochemical Studies of Bio-Oils: Conversion and Upgrading

Biomass is an abundant resource and is mostly used as a source of energy by direct combustion. However, there are other alternatives for the efficient use of this renewable resource: sustainable production of liquid and solid fuels, hydrogen, synthetic gases and valuable chemicals (1). Liquid fuels are advantageous because of their elevated high heating value (HHV) (2), being obtained by a solvolysis process at moderate temperatures and atmospheric pressure (3), and referred to as liquefaction. Recently, the innovative generation of syngas uses the water electrolysis process with liquefied biomass as a carbon source (necessary to obtaining carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) (4). Syngas has many applications like the intermediate production of transport fuels, gas fuels and various chemicals. Biomass can also be a source of valuable chemicals, for example levulinic acid, which is predominant in liquefied cork and of extreme importance as an intermediate in the synthesis of many other compounds. Nilges et al. (5) made use of electrochemistry for the production of renewable chemicals and biofuels, specifically a two-step electrochemical conversion of levulinic acid to octane via valeric acid. The conversion of levulinic acid into hydrocarbons is usually achieved via multi-step processes (under harsh conditions of temperature and pressure, 250 – 400 ºC and 10 – 35 bar of H2), while the electrochemical reaction is performed at room temperature and in aqueous solutions, with a natural phase separation allowing a simple separation of the hydrocarbon. In the electrochemical processes, the selectivity for the reaction products are dependent on the electrolyte composition, electrode material and current density (6). This work identifies the potential of the different biomass under study, namely pinewood, olive stones, cork and almond shells, to produce bio-oil with the highest prospective to continue further studies regarding two aspects: the electrochemical conversion to industrial relevant compounds and the electrocatalytic upgrading of biomass-derived intermediates. Herein, the liquefied products of the mentioned biomass samples were characterized by several physicochemical methods (e.g., density, viscosity and conductivity). Then, the electrochemical behavior of the bio-oils were analyzed using platinum (Pt) electrodes both as anode and as cathode. Voltammetric methods were used to assess the liquefied biomass samples anodic oxidation at the Pt electrode using different potential scan rates. The hydrogen evolution reaction in the samples was also evaluated at the same electrode. Chronoamperometry measurements were used to check the effect of different applied potentials in the anodic and cathodic currents. To increase the samples’ conductivity, the effect of adding different concentrations of H2SO4 was also assessed using the same methods. A small-scale laboratory electrolyzer using Ni plates for both cathode and anode was assembled and the operation parameters were evaluated, specifically the cell voltage applied and the electrolyzer operation time. The bio-oil, before and after electrolysis, and any compounds deposited on the electrodes surface were characterized. The as deposited compounds were observed using optical microscope (Figure 1). The bio-oils and the deposits were chemically analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Figure 1. Optical microscope image of the solid compound deposited in the Ni anode during the electrolysis of liquefied cork (cell voltage = 2.5 V; time = 1 h). References W. Yang, T. Shimanouchi, M. Iwamura, Y. Takahashi, R. Mano, K. Takashima, et al. Elevating the fuel properties of Humulus lupulus, Plumeria alba and Calophyllum inophyllum L. through wet torrefaction. Fuel. 2015, Vol. 146, pp. 88-94.M. M. Mateus, J. C. Bordado, R. G. dos Santos. Potential biofuel from liquefied cork – Higher heating value comparison. Fuel. 2016, Vol. 174, pp. 114-117.H. Pan. Synthesis of polymers from organic solvent liquefied biomass: A review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Reviews. 2011, Vol. 15, pp. 3454-3463.L. Guerra, K. Moura, J. Rodrigues, J. Gomes, J. Puna, J. Bordado, T. Santos. Synthesis gas production from water electrolysis, using the Electrocracking concept. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 2018, Vol. 6, pp. 604-609.P. Nilges, T. R. dos Santos, F. Harnisch, U. Schröder. Electrochemistry for biofuel generation: Electrochemical conversion of levulinic acid to octane. Energy Environ. Sci. 2012, Vol. 5, pp. 5231–5235.T. R. dos Santos, P. Nilges, W. Sauter, F. Harnisch, U. Schröder Electrochemistry for the generation of renewable chemicals: electrochemical conversion of levulinic acid. RSC Advances. 2015, Vol. 5, pp. 26634-26643. Figure 1

Production of value-added chemicals from wheat straw lignin by bio-refinery process

Lignocellulosic-based bio-refineries are essential for a secure energy in future. Lignin degradation is required for carbon recycling and production of renewable chemicals. Lignin due to the high level of color and low biodegradability, is categorized as a serious pollutant particularly in the aquatic ecosystem. In this study, biodegradation of organosolv lignin by a white rot fungi, Bjerkandera adusta, was verified. The FTIR spectra of lignin, before and after treatment with fungi displayed modification by changing in the structure of lignin. Some of the functional groups have disappeared and some new bands appeared in the spectra. The SDS-PAGE chromatographs also showed that the fungi protein has a molecular weight of 44 kDa. This molecular weight increased to 46 kDa after the treatment of lignin by fungi. The heavier molecular weight occurred due to the bonding of fungi protein with lignin. The results from surface morphology also showed the attachments of lignin molecules to fungi mycelia. As a result, the extracted lignin after treatment with B. adusta showed significant changes in its physical and chemical structure which makes it a noble candidate for carrying out value added products and refinery of lignin waste in pulp and paper industries.

Targeted metatranscriptomics of compost-derived consortia reveals a GH11 exerting an unusual exo-1,4-\u03b2-xylanase activity

BackgroundUsing globally abundant crop residues as a carbon source for energy generation and renewable chemicals production stand out as a promising solution to reduce current dependency on fossil fuels. In nature, such as in compost habitats, microbial communities efficiently degrade the available plant biomass using a diverse set of synergistic enzymes. However, deconstruction of lignocellulose remains a challenge for industry due to recalcitrant nature of the substrate and the inefficiency of the enzyme systems available, making the economic production of lignocellulosic biofuels difficult. Metatranscriptomic studies of microbial communities can unveil the metabolic functions employed by lignocellulolytic consortia and identify novel biocatalysts that could improve industrial lignocellulose conversion.ResultsIn this study, a microbial community from compost was grown in minimal medium with sugarcane bagasse sugarcane bagasse as the sole carbon source. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance was used to monitor lignocellulose degradation; analysis of metatranscriptomic data led to the selection and functional characterization of several target genes, revealing the first glycoside hydrolase from Carbohydrate Active Enzyme family 11 with exo-1,4-β-xylanase activity. The xylanase crystal structure was resolved at 1.76 Å revealing the structural basis of exo-xylanase activity. Supplementation of a commercial cellulolytic enzyme cocktail with the xylanase showed improvement in Avicel hydrolysis in the presence of inhibitory xylooligomers.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that composting microbiomes continue to be an excellent source of biotechnologically important enzymes by unveiling the diversity of enzymes involved in in situ lignocellulose degradation.

Process development and techno‐economic analysis of bio‐based succinic acid derived from pentoses integrated to a sugarcane biorefinery

AbstractBio‐based succinic acid is a potential building block for the production of renewable chemicals and polymers. The use of hemicellulosic hydrolyzate from sugarcane bagasse allows production of succinic acid without competing with food chains and increasing the biomass ‐aggregated value. This work assesses the economic impacts of integrating the production of ‐succinic acid on an optimized sugarcane biorefinery with the production of first‐generation ethanol and electricity. Process simulation was performed to obtain mass and energy balances of the entire process, from bagasse pre‐treatment to pentose fermentation and succinic acid recovery, using several pieces of technical information and data taken from the scientific literature. After ‐assessing the impacts of key economic variables through risk analysis, the obtained results were benchmarked against those of an optimized ethanol distillery. Calculated succinic acid production cost was US$ 2.32/kg, comparable to costs related to less expensive sugar sources. The integrated succinic acid biorefinery presented a slightly lower internal rate of return (IRR) compared to an ‐ethanol distillery. However, even when considering uncertainties, succinic acid production has a strong probability (84.6%) of achieving an IRR higher than 12%. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Decoupling the Role of External Mass Transfer and Intracrystalline Pore Diffusion on the Selectivity of HZSM-5 for the Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass

Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) using HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts serves as a promising route for the production of renewable chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. However, this reaction is limited by the formation of coke, which can exceed 40% of carbon atoms present in the raw biomass feedstock. The role of structural parameters on coking remains unclear with both internal micropore diffusion and external mass transfer limitations hypothesized to actively contribute to carbon deposition. Here, we decouple the role of these parameters by comparing conventional in situ pyrolysis tests using model compounds to experiments performed with the reactant preadsorbed onto the zeolite catalyst. Experimental results supported by calculation of the mass transfer Biot number point to micropore diffusion as the dominant cause of coke formation. Specifically, the presence of defects such as internal crystal grain boundaries and extraframework species in the zeolite’s micropores actively contribute to this undesired side...

Catalytic Oxidation of Lignin in Solvent Systems for Production of Renewable Chemicals: A Review.

Lignin as the most abundant source of aromatic chemicals in nature has attracted a great deal of attention in both academia and industry. Solvolysis is one of the promising methods to convert lignin to a number of petroleum-based aromatic chemicals. The process involving the depolymerization of the lignin macromolecule and repolymerization of fragments is complicated influenced by heating methods, reaction conditions, presence of a catalyst and solvent systems. Recently, numerous investigations attempted unveiling the inherent mechanism of this process in order to promote the production of valuable aromatics. Oxidative solvolysis of lignin can produce a number of the functionalized monomeric or oligomeric chemicals. A number of research groups should be greatly appreciated with regard to their contributions on the following two concerns: (1) the cracking mechanism of inter-unit linkages during the oxidative solvolysis of lignin; and (2) the development of novel catalysts for oxidative solvolysis of lignin and their performance. Investigations on lignin oxidative solvolysis are extensively overviewed in this work, concerning the above issues and the way-forward for lignin refinery.

How Inter- and Intramolecular Reactions Dominate the Formation of Products in Lignin Pyrolysis.

One of the key challenges in renewable chemical production is the conversion of lignin, especially by fast pyrolysis. The complexity of the lignin pyrolysis process has hindered the elucidation of the mechanism, inhibiting further industrial implementation. By combining pyrolysis of model compounds (4-phenoxyphenol and 2-methoxy-phenoxybenzene) with lignin bond characteristics both under vacuum and under realistic pressure conditions, the roles of inter- and intramolecular reactions were established. On the one hand, the stable 4-O-5 ether bond enables, without breaking, C-C bond formation and even directly forms naphthalene depending on the position and type of the substituent. p-Benzoquinone intermediates, on the other hand, are highly unstable at ambient pressure and directly decompose into coke and carbon monoxide. The system pressure (radical concentration) plays a crucial role in the dominant reaction mechanism by initiating intramolecular reactions, interfering with intramolecular reactions. H-transfer and recombination reactions suppress the decarbonylation of phenoxy radicals, thus yielding a very different product distribution.

Electrochemistry for the Generation of Renewable Chemicals: One-Pot Electrochemical Deoxygenation of Xylose to δ-Valerolactone.

In this study, the electrochemical conversion of xylose to δ-valerolactone via carbonyl intermediates is demonstrated. The conversion was achieved in aqueous media and at ambient conditions. This study also demonstrates that the feedstock for production of renewable chemicals and biofuels through electrochemistry can be extended to primary carbohydrate molecules. This is the first report on a one-pot electrochemical deoxygenation of xylose to δ-valerolactone.

Extractable phenolic yield variation in five cultivars of mature short rotation coppice willow from four plantations in Quebec

Short rotation coppice willow (Salix sp.) is well established as an effective phytoremediation crop and is also emerging as an attractive lignocellulosic bioenergy option. The prospect of integrating value-added renewable chemicals as a supplementary component of the crop’s value is explored here in terms of absolute phenolic yields, extractable from field cultivated mature biomass. Five willow cultivars, selected as leading biomass yielding cultivars, were cultivated at four field sites in Quebec, Canada: Salix x dasyclados ‘SV1’, Salix viminalis ‘SV5027’, Salix miyabeana ‘SX61’, ‘SX64’, ‘SX67’. Substantial and significant cultivar variation was observed in groups of compounds including hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives, benzoic acids derivatives, flavonols and condensed tannins in concentration per ton of biomass and/or yield per hectare per year. The highest phenolic yields were produced by Salix miyabeana ‘SX67’ cultivated at St-Roch at 5.43 (±0.60)kgha−1yr−1, which also produced 35.54 (±4.10)kgha−1yr−1 condensed tannins. These phenolic yields suggest further exploration of renewable chemicals production as a supplement to other biomass end-uses could be worthwhile. Such flexibility would help provide important advantages for weathering renewables policy and market uncertainty as well as improve the feasibility and competitiveness of sustainable biomass production as part of an integrated green technology platform.

Towards a Renewable Brazilian Chemistry from Vegetal Biomass

The transition from the current dependence on non-renewable raw materials of the chemical industry to vegetable biomass as an oil substitute has become a strategic challenge to the twenty-first century. Chemicals have the highest potential to add value on a biomass chain because of the importance of conventional chemical industry and fine chemical chemistry for different sectors of economy. This article deals with the economic potential of the vegetable biomass as a source of raw material to support the production of renewable chemicals. The focus is on illustrating the perspectives and challenges for the development of a Brazilian renewable chemical industry, considering that Brazil is one of the largest global producers of agro-industrial biomass for several purposes, especially for food and biofuels.

In-situ catalytic copyrolysis of cellulose and polypropylene over desilicated ZSM-5

The catalytic pyrolysis of biomass using zeolites as catalysts is a promising technique for the production of renewable chemicals and fuels. On the other hand, the low effective hydrogen to carbon ratio of biomass results in a hydrogen-deficient hydrocarbon pool inside the catalyst and in turn the formation of carbonaceous deposits, which causes catalyst deactivation. The catalytic copyrolysis of cellulose and polypropylene was conducted using ZSM-5, desilicated ZSM-5, and Al-SBA-15. The co-feeding of polypropylene with cellulose led to the enhanced formation of aromatic hydrocarbons due to the increased hydrogen content of feedstock and the interaction between the cellulose-derived furans and olefins obtained from polypropylene. Microporous zeolites resulted in the production of more aromatic hydrocarbons compared to mesoporous Al-SBA-15. In addition, desilicated ZSM-5 showed better catalytic performance than the parent ZSM-5 due to the presence of larger channels that facilitate the diffusion of compounds with a wider range of molecular sizes.

Microbiomes and Electroorganic Synthesis – A Fruitful Liaison for the Production of Renewable Chemicals?!

Microbiomes and Electroorganic Synthesis – A Fruitful Liaison for the Production of Renewable Chemicals?!

The Role of GroE Chaperonins in Developing Biocatalysts for Biofuel and Chemical Production

As the need and interest for producing renewable biofuels and biochemical has grown, new avenues to improve product yields and productivity have been explored. Specifically, improving the tolerance of host microbes towards stressors, such as heat shock or the presence of harmful solvents, has been an especially important route to improve industrial-scale chemical production. In this review, we discuss recent advances in microbial engineering for renewable chemical production through the introduction and expression of chaperonins, especially the bacterial GroE complex. The GroE complex provides a closed-off environment and allows vital proteins to enter and engage in post-translational folding or refolding in a more-ideal environment, allowing the microbe to possess increased survival rates in low/high temperatures or in high concentrations of otherwise harmful end-products. Overall, we highlighted how chaperonin systems such as the GroE complex could have many industrially-relevant uses in the coming years.

Continuous hydrothermal co-liquefaction of aspen wood and glycerol with water phase recirculation

Hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising technology for the conversion of a wide range of bio-feedstock into a biocrude; a mixture of chemical compounds that holds the potential for a renewable production of chemicals and fuels. Most research in hydrothermal liquefaction is performed in batch type reactors, although a continuous and energy-efficient operation is paramount for such process to be feasible. In this work an experimental campaign in a continuous bench scale unit is presented. The campaign is based on glycerol-assisted hydrothermal liquefaction of aspen wood carried out with the presence of a homogeneous catalyst at supercritical water conditions, 400°C and 300bar. Furthermore, in the experimental campaign a water phase recirculation step is incorporated to evaluate the technical feasibility of such procedure. In total, four batches of approximately 100kg of feed each were processed successfully at steady state conditions without any observation of system malfunctioning. The biocrude obtained was characterized using several analytical methods to evaluate the feasibility of the process and the quality of the product. Results showed that a high quality biocrude was obtained having a higher heating value of 34.3MJ/kg. The volatile fraction of the biocrude consisted mostly of compounds having number of carbon atoms in the C6–C12 range similar to gasoline. In terms of process feasibility, it was revealed that total organic carbon (TOC) and ash significantly accumulated in the water phase when such is recirculated for the proceeding batch. After four batches the TOC and the ash mass fraction of the water phase were 136.2 [g/L] and 12.6 [%], respectively. Water phase recirculation showed a slight increase in the biocrude quality in terms on an effective hydrogen-to-carbon ratio, but it showed no effects on the product gas composition or the pH of the water phase. The successful operation demonstrated the technical feasibility of a continuous production of high quality biocrude.

Cyanobacterial photo-driven mixotrophic metabolism and its advantages for biosynthesis

Cyanobacterium offers a promising chassis for phototrophic production of renewable chemicals. Although engineered cyanobacteria can achieve similar product carbon yields as heterotrophic microbial hosts, their production rate and titer under photoautotrophic conditions are 10 to 100 folds lower than those in fast growing E. coli. Cyanobacterial factories face three indomitable bottlenecks. First, photosynthesis has limited ATP and NADPH generation rates. Second, CO2 fixation by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) has poor efficiency. Third, CO2 mass transfer and light supply are deficient within large photobioreactors. On the other hand, cyanobacteria may employ organic substrates to promote phototrophic cell growth, N2 fixation, and metabolite synthesis. The photo-fermentations show enhanced photosynthesis, while CO2 loss from organic substrate degradation can be reused by the Calvin cycle. In addition, the plasticity of cyanobacterial pathways (e.g., oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and the TCA cycle) has been recently revealed to facilitate the catabolism. The use of cyanobacteria as “green E. coli” could be a promising route to develop robust photobiorefineries. Open image in new window

Acid‐catalyzed Oxidation of Levulinate Derivatives to Succinates under Mild Conditions

AbstractLevulinate derivatives are an attractive platform for the production of renewable chemicals. Here we report on the oxidation of methyl levulinate into dimethyl succinate with peroxides under mild conditions using Brønsted and Lewis acid catalysts. Selectivities to succinate and acetate derivatives of approximately 60 and 40 %, respectively, were obtained with strong Brønsted acids in methanol. Although the molecular structure (i.e., carbon‐chain length and branching around the CO group) and the oxidant type affect the product distribution, solvent choice has the strongest impact on changing the location of oxygen insertion into the carbon backbone. Specifically, switching the solvent from methanol to heptane resulted in a decrease in the succinate/acetate ratio from 1.6 to 0.3. In contrast to Brønsted acids, we demonstrate that the nature of the metal cation is responsible for changing the reaction selectivity of water‐tolerant Lewis acidic triflate salts.

A renewable chemistry linked to the Brazilian biofuel production

The transition from the current dependence on non-renewable raw materials to biomass as an oil substitute has become a strategic challenge to the twenty-first century. Chemicals have the highest potential to add value on a vegetable biomass chain because of the importance of conventional chemical industry and fine chemical chemistry for different sectors of economy, highlighting compounds that may be used as building blocks, intermediates of synthesis and specialties. This review deals with the economic potential of residual biomass from biodiesel and bioethanol industries as a source of raw material to support the production of renewable chemicals. The focus is on illustrating the perspectives and challenges for the development of a Brazilian renewable chemical industry, considering that Brazil is one of the largest global producers of agro-industrial biomass for several purposes, especially for biofuels.

Life cycle assessment of commodity chemical production from forest residue via fast pyrolysis

Purpose This life cycle assessment evaluates and quantifies the environmental impacts of renewable chemical production from forest residue via fast pyrolysis with hydrotreating/fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) pathway.

GreenPremium Prices Along the Value Chain of Biobased Products

Industrial BiotechnologyVol. 10, No. 2 Industry ReportsGreenPremium Prices Along the Value Chain of Biobased ProductsMichael Carus, Asta Eder, and Janpeter BeckmannMichael CarusSearch for more papers by this author, Asta EderSearch for more papers by this author, and Janpeter BeckmannSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:15 Apr 2014https://doi.org/10.1089/ind.2014.1512AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View articleFiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byBiocomposites: A review of materials and perceptionMaterials Today Communications, Vol. 31Inattention, availability bias, and attribute premium estimation for a biobased product20 September 2021 | Agricultural Economics, Vol. 53, No. 2Consumers’ preferences for bioplastic products: A discrete choice experiment with a focus on purchase driversJournal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 330Unlocking the Global Potential of Waste Biorefining: Scaling Up or Scaling Down?2 September 2022Optimal Pricing and Green Product Design Strategies in a Sustainable Supply Chain Considering Government Subsidy and Different Channel Power Structures11 November 2021 | Sustainability, Vol. 13, No. 22Consumer willingness to pay for bio-based products: Do certifications matter?International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 240Exploring perceptions of environmental professionals, plastic processors, students and consumers of bio-based plastics: Informing the development of the sectorSustainable Production and Consumption, Vol. 26The effects of green nudges on consumer valuation of bio-based plastic packagingEcological Economics, Vol. 178Potential Raw Materials and Production Technologies for Biorefineries19 October 2020Greening products in a supply chain under market segmentation and different channel power structuresInternational Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 223Innovation potentials triggered by glycoscience researchCarbohydrate Polymers, Vol. 233Consumers’ Acceptance of a Bio-circular Automotive Economy: Explanatory Model and Influence Factors12 March 2020 | Sustainability, Vol. 12, No. 6Bioeconomy as a Circular and Integrated System7 March 2020Novel hybrid composite based on bio-PET with basalt/carbon fibreIOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 634, No. 1Development of Sustainable and Cost-Competitive Injection-Molded Pieces of Partially Bio-Based Polyethylene Terephthalate through the Valorization of Cotton Textile Waste19 March 2019 | International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol. 20, No. 6Analysis of Standards, Certifications and Labels for Bio-based Products in the Context of Sustainable BioeconomyInternational Journal of Standardization Research, Vol. 17, No. 1A Governance Framework for a Sustainable Bioeconomy: Insights from the Case of the German Wood-based Bioeconomy21 January 2018Towards a sustainable innovation system for the German wood-based bioeconomy: Implications for policy designJournal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 172Can bio-based attributes upgrade a brand? How partial and full use of bio-based materials affects the purchase intention of brandsJournal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 162Biogenic product alternatives for children: Consumer preferences for a set of sand toys made of bio-based plasticSustainable Production and Consumption, Vol. 10Acceptance of bio‐based products in the business‐to‐business market and public procurement: Expert survey results25 October 2016 | Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, Vol. 11, No. 1Sustainability of biofuels and renewable chemicals production from biomassCurrent Opinion in Chemical Biology, Vol. 29Commercial Development of Fermentation Processes23 October 2015 Volume 10Issue 2Apr 2014 InformationCopyright 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.To cite this article:Michael Carus, Asta Eder, and Janpeter Beckmann.GreenPremium Prices Along the Value Chain of Biobased Products.Industrial Biotechnology.Apr 2014.83-88.http://doi.org/10.1089/ind.2014.1512Published in Volume: 10 Issue 2: April 15, 2014PDF download

A new distillation plant for neutral alcohol production

This work aims to investigate industrial plants for neutral alcohol production, a special kind of alcohol used in the fine chemical, pharmaceutical and beverage industries, having a high potential as feedstock for renewable chemicals production. Operational and constructive changes in typical hydrated bioethanol plants were investigated by computational simulation, aiming to develop a new plant for neutral alcohol production. The wine was represented by a standard solution containing water, ethanol and 17 congeners. The results were compared with a typical Brazilian plant and a literature reported plant. The new suggested installation was more efficient than the traditional plants, since the steam consumption was, at most, 45.0% lower, ethanol recovery as neutral alcohol was, at most, 5.0% higher and the number of trays required for purifying bioethanol was also much lower. Furthermore, byproducts generated from the neutral alcohol distillation were used for producing fuel bioethanol.