EXPANDING AN ETHANOL PLANT TO USE MULTIPLE FEEDSTOCKS

摘要

Cane molasses as a feed stock in the production of ethanol has dominated tropical regions for ages. It is now time to look at techno-economic factors of other carbohydrate feedstocks like beet molasses, cane syrup/juice, sugar beet, sweet sorghum and on the other spectrum it will be grains and tubers. The idea of considering alternate feedstocks is prompted by the need to maintain control over the vagaries of the agri-produce, where it is noticed that the crop cycle has far reaching effects on the production cost and hence the profitability of any single substrate based distillery. How then, can we deal with the ups and downs without compromising on any of the markets, whether domestic or exports, especially with regards to the present widespread interest in the production of fuel ethanol? In this paper we shall deal with technologies and processes which will make the distillery flexible in handling alternate substrates. This would make the return on investments more attractive.