DHR ― DEDINI HIDROLISE RAPIDA (DEDINI RAPID HYDROLYSIS): REVOLUTIONARY PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ALCOHOL FROM SUGARCANE BAGASSE

摘要

The DHR―Dedini Hidrolise Rapida (Dedini Rapid Hydrolysis)―process consists of using the organosolv hydrolysis process to convert sugarcane bagasse into sugars which, fermented and distilled, result in ethyl alcohol. The revolutionary feature of DHR is due to the reduced hydrolysis reaction time, only a few minutes, in a continuous process, enabling higher yields, few unit operations, minimum investment, and reduced operating costs. Hydrated alcohol yields up to 109 litres/tonne of 50% humidity bagasse was proved in pilot plant scale without xylose fermentation; with xylose use, alcohol yields up to a potential of 180 litres/tonne may be reached. The process was developed from the end of the 1980s, in laboratory scale, and then in pilot scale, its technical-economic feasibility having been confirmed. At present, a semi-industrial plant of 5000 litres of alcohol/day is installed at Usina Sao Luis, Pirassununga, State of Sao Paulo, a sugar and alcohol mill from the Dedini Group and an affiliate to Copersucar. The resources for that joint project came from Dedini, Copersucar and the Research Supporting Foundation of the State of Sao Paulo―FAPESP ('Fundo de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo'). On reaching its full potential, DHR will have a large impact on the sector, making it possible almost to double the current alcohol production per hectare of sugarcane harvested and for alcohol to compete with gasoline, at petroleum prices lower than US$20/barrel.