| Biofuels

Industrial processes for converting biomass into biofuels

The challenge of public energy policies is basically to guarantee long-term supply and obtain lower prices and diversification of sources while maintaining the competitiveness of locally produced energy.

10.11.2015 | 21:59 (UTC -3)

One view of the international trend in biofuel development, shared by many experts, is that currently available first-generation biofuels (sucrose and starch ethanol; biodiesel produced by transesterification of oils and fats with ethanol or methanol) will be followed by so-called “second generation biofuels”, which include diesel produced by synthesis gas in thermochemical processes and ethanol from lignocellulosic materials through chemical and enzymatic processes. Next, in this timeline, integrated biorefineries will be built to fully harness energy, biofuels and a large number of chemicals and biochemicals from biomass.

For all countries, the challenge of public energy policies is basically to guarantee long-term supply and obtain lower prices and diversification of sources while maintaining the competitiveness of locally produced energy. Such objectives must be achieved considering sustainable development and minimizing environmental problems caused by emissions. For this reason, the Brazilian government has directed its public policies towards the development and strengthening of biofuels.

Biofuels promote a series of environmental gains (carbon sequestration, lower level of emissions), are renewable (short production cycle, with the process almost entirely controlled by man) and promote positive socio-economic impacts (creation of jobs, better income distribution, increased exports and the possibility of supplementing global energy demand).

Brazil presents all the conditions for the development of a broad and sustainable national biofuel production program: a high diversity of raw materials suitable for different regions, broad potential for agricultural expansion, trained human resources, a broad industrial sector of vegetable oils and alcohol , experience and global leadership in the biofuels (ethanol) business. To define the basic guidelines for biomass energy production in the country, the Brazilian Agroenergy Plan (PNA) 2006 – 2011 was drawn up, whose fundamental objective is to ensure the country's international leadership in the new agroenergy sector.

The implementation of the PNA is based on strengthening the research, development and innovation (RD&I) component, focusing on 4 platforms (biodiesel, ethanol, energy forests and use of waste), and includes a portfolio of projects involving the development of agricultural technology (sustainable production systems), industrial technology (efficient conversion processes) and cross-sectional studies (markets, socio-economic and environmental impacts, among others). In this way, the country intends to consolidate its leadership in 1st generation biofuels and develop 2nd generation fuels, agrobiotechnology (seeds, enzymes and microorganisms) and implement the concept of biorefinery, chemical products and “green” biochemicals (polymers, resins). Agroenergy production chains must be organized in the medium term, including 1st and 2nd generation fuels and bioelectricity.

To define Embrapa's vision and expected actions for the development of the agroenergy sector, it is appropriate to use the company's Master Plan (PDE) for the period 2008-2023 as a reference. In this document, Embrapa's strategic objectives describe the scientific and technological challenges that the company plans to face, defining high priority results that must be achieved within the period covered by the strategic plan. Of the five strategic objectives (OE) defined in the PDE, the second is specifically dedicated to agroenergy: “Achieving a new competitive technological level in agroenergy and biofuels”.

To achieve this OE, two priority medium-term strategies (2011) were selected: 1) Extend the RD&I effort to the development of new energy technologies (cellulose ethanol, biorefining products, hydrogen) and 2) Develop technologies to take advantage of co-products and waste. For the long term (2023), three strategic priorities are included: 1) Intensify RD&I aimed at developing new production processes and cultivars with superior characteristics for energy production; 2) Expand the zoning effort and assessment of ecological, economic and social impacts to identify competitive and sustainable areas for agroenergy production and 3) Develop technologies and production systems aimed at using degraded areas for bioenergy production.

In response to the PNA 2006 – 2011, and considering the priorities established in its Master Plan, Embrapa is currently developing a portfolio of projects on the agroenergy theme. Among them, the current efforts for the development of industrial processes in ethanol are mainly related to the development of 2nd generation processes, including articulated actions to: a) characterize and select alternative sources of raw material with better characteristics for the production of ethanol lignocellulosic; b) prospect and select microorganisms for the production of cell wall hydrolytic enzymes and for alcoholic fermentation of pentoses and hexoses; c) prospect, synthesize and characterize genes involved in the synthesis of hydrolytic enzymes to increase their specific activity or to consolidate conversion processes; d) develop more efficient conversion processes using improved raw materials, microorganisms and enzymes aiming at the sustainable production of ethanol from lignocellulosic raw materials.

In research and development of processes related to biodiesel production, Embrapa's main scientific and technological efforts are related to: a) characterizing, selecting and developing sustainable production systems for alternative raw materials with better characteristics for biodiesel production; b) development of the ethyl route; c) development of sustainable alternatives for the use of waste (especially glycerin and cakes resulting from oil extraction); and d) characterization of the properties and testing of biodiesel processing technologies using alternative raw materials to increase and diversify national production.

Embrapa Agroenergia is aware that in the development of industrial processes for converting biomass into biofuels, in addition to the technical challenges, a major challenge that cannot be underestimated is the governance of RD&I processes, involving the integration of efforts, networking, adequate allocation and sharing of human, physical and financial resources and establishment of public-private partnerships, among other aspects. Far from being merely operational, those related to management will be absolutely fundamental so that the actions aimed at developing industrial processes for converting biomass into biofuels are fruitful in the sense that Brazil maintains technological and industrial leadership in several of the aspects mentioned.