Diseño de un fermentador para el aprovechamiento del bagazo de caña de azúcar y el raquis de palma africana

Abstract

The increase in global carbon emissions and the growing concern over environmental issues, along with the high costs of oil, energy supply insecurity, and the challenges associated with climate change, have generated significant interest in advancing clean energy sources. In response to these challenges, a bioreactor was designed to evaluate the energy impact, conversion efficiency of microorganisms, and potential environmental impact when using glucose derived from the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials as a substrate. This approach aims to produce second-generation products, which offer multiple benefits by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, it positively addresses the growing global energy demand, enhances energy security without compromising food security, and promotes sustainable development through responsible practices. In this context, the research involved a literature review and data analysis using the Vantage Point tool to determine the biofuel with the best potential, considering its energy capacity, scientific interest in recent years, high productivity, and environmental impact. Therefore, biohydrogen, biomethane, bioethanol, and biobutanol were selected as study references. Upon studying each of these biofuels, it was determined that biobutanol exhibits the highest energy potential. Furthermore, it was noted that scientific interest in biobutanol has been increasing in recent years, with significant advancements to date. A key advantage of biobutanol over bioethanol is its easier handling, as it is less hygroscopic and can be mixed with gasoline in any proportion, which is not possible with bioethanol. Another important factor for selecting biobutanol as the target biofuel is the associated by-products, which include economically valuable compounds such as Acetone, Acetic Acid, and Butyric Acid, thereby increasing the overall economic viability of the production process. To design the bioreactor, the strain Clostridium Saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4 was identified as having the best potential for butanol biosynthesis, considering its productivity, glucose conversion, solvent tolerance, and the fact that it does not produce ethanol, which significantly reduces the costs of separating valuable by-products. Using the information obtained from scientometrics and considering the American design code ASME, a bioreactor with a 5-liter capacity was designed for laboratory-scale studies. The design process involved four stages: the fermentation tank design, heat exchanger design, operating conditions, agitator design, and the adaptation of input streams and process-associated accessories. Finally, a simulation was conducted using the SuperPro Designer software, following the reaction stoichiometry reported by Francisco Vela (Vela Aragón, 2008), with an operating temperature and pressure of 32°C and one atmosphere, respectively. The result was a concentration of just over 12 g/L in the fermented product stream, starting with an initial glucose concentration from the hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse and African palm rachis of 50 g/L.