Anaerobic Solutions for Sugar Cane Vinasses

In some countries, vinasse cannot be used as a fertiliser and must instead be treated. In Brazil, for example, sugar cane is used as feedstock with vinasse resulting from the
transformation of sugar cane juice or molasses (or indeed a mixture of the both) into ethanol. In other countries, ethanol is obtained using other types of feedstock.

At the same time, molasses is also frequently used for the production of alcoholic beverages and, in contrast to most distilleries, the alcohol production can continue throughout the year, forcing these industries to burn fossil fuels in their boilers.

To provide the energy requested for these distilleries, BIOTECS offers and supplies a range of efficient and reliable anaerobic technologies to treat vinasse and produce biogas. This by-product is then used to supply the main or substitute fuel for the boilers, thus creating a source of energy which is clean, green and renewable. This type of application provides for a very quick payback on the initial investment and also helps to reduce the impact of the vinasse on the environment.

Fermentation and distillation of cane juice and molasses produce vinasses with different levels of COD concentrations (+/- 25 to 30 and 80 to 150 g/l, respectively) and, in the case of molasses, high levels of potassium, total suspended solids and sulphates, and also moderate quantities of TKN (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen) and phosphorus can be found.