Though the idea of a cleaner, cheaper fuel is enticing to just about everyone, the various processes, techniques and lingo can be daunting to most of us trying to figure out which really is the best. Stratos Renewables Corp. is focused on the production, processing and distribution of sugarcane-based ethanol in Peru.
Though sugarcane ethanol has many advantages over, say corn or biomass-based ethanol, the simplified process to produce sugar-based ethanol is a heavy weight. Put in layman’s terms, the process seems simple and a sure-shot to cheaper, cleaner fuel.
Sugarcane ethanol production requires about half the energy requirement than that of corn – a yeast fermentation process and the removal of water is all it takes to produce sugar-based ethanol. When converting corn, additional cooking and the application of enzymes are required.
First, the sugarcane is cultivated and harvested, then processed at a sugar mill. At the mill, cane stalks are shredded and crushed, resulting in sugarcane juice which can also be used in molasses (for alcoholic beverages and such relatives) and bagasses (generating steam to generate electricity in the plant).
From the mill the sugarcane juice is converted into alcohol through the aforementioned fermentation process. This takes between four and 12 hours, generating quite a bit of CO2 and heat. So from here, the fermented wine mixture is cooled, allowing for the capture of the CO2 which can be used for soft drinks, fire-fighting foams, filtration products and more.
After the fermentation process, ethanol is distilled from other byproducts. This 95% purity mixture is called “hydrous ethanol,” containing 5% water. Hydrous ethanol can have commercial uses but cannot be blended with gasoline unless it is dehydrated, forming anhydrous ethanol which is 100% pure.
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