Poster Presentation 1A-09

Bioenergy in Brazil:  Production, Application and New Developments

Adalberto Pessoa Junior,¹* Inês Conceição Roberto,² Marcelo Menossi,³

 Raphael Revert dos Santos and Thereza Christina Vessoni Penna¹

¹Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology

 School of Pharmaceutical Science

University of São Paulo

Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, n^o. 580/B16

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

São Paulo - Brazil

Phone:  0055-11-30913862

Fax:  0055-11-38156386.

E-mail: pessoajr@usp.br

²Biotechnology Department. Faculty of Chemical Engineering of Lorena, Brazil

³Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering – University of Campinas, Brazil

 Brazil is the world’s primary energy producer from biomass at low cost, and is responsible for more than 1 million direct jobs. In 1975, the Brazilian Program of Alcohol (Proalcohol) stimulated the creation of a 100% national technology to produce bioethanol, providing a very important improvement in economical, social and scientific aspects. In 1984, 94.5% of the cars used bioethanol as fuel.  In 2003, ethanol production reached 12 billion liters and the number of alcohol cars was 4.3 million.  Until now, the investment in such program was $11 billion US, and Brazil saved $27 billion US in oil importation.  Alcohol production from sugarcane generates 152 times more jobs than petroleum, and the use of ethanol as a fuel is also advantageous environmentally. In 2003, one of the largest Brazilian alcohol industries began consuming 50% of the residual sugarcane bagasse to produce electrical energy (60 MW), and initiated a new bioenergy alternative for the internal market consumption.  Other technologies for commercial use of bagasse are in development, such as natural fiber, sweetener (glucose and xylitol), single cell protein, lactic acid, microbial enzymes and many other products based on fermentations (submerged and semi-solid).  Furthermore, studies are underway to understand the genetics of sugarcane related to the increase in the biosynthesis of sucrose, and consequently ethanol productivity.  Although at present there remain technical obstacles to the economical use of some alcohol industry residues, several research projects have been carried out, and useful data generated.  Efficient utilization of the alcohol industry residues has created opportunities for new value-added products, especially in Brazil where they are produced in high quantities.