Cellulosic Ethanol from Sugarcane Straw: a Discussion Based on Industrial Experience in the Northeast of Brazil

Second-generation technology (2G) is currently the industrial route that is being developed with the potential to meet the demand for biofuels and bioproducts. The technology studied in the present work is based on the non-food processing of sugarcane straw, which is unlike the bagasse processing route (a lignocellulosic residue) that is commonly used in boilers for steam and electricity generation. In the last years, cellulosic ethanol plants worldwide include the utilisation of corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, wood waste and plant residues. Therefore, a communication based on industrial aspects using sugarcane straw is important in order to expand the knowledge regarding this promising technology. The main objective of this work included listing the results obtained in a cellulosic-ethanol production industry using sugarcane straw, located in the Northeast region of Brazil and taking into account the efficiency of pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation processes and comparing these results with data found in the literature regarding studies with similar efficiency. It was possible to observe that the production of ethanol from sugarcane straw at an industrial scale achieved a productivity of 200 l of ethanol per tonne of biomass, exhibiting 90, 70 and 85% of pre-treatment, hydrolysis and fermentation efficiency, respectively.