SIMULATION AND ECONOMIC TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF LEVULINIC ACID PRODUCTION FROM SUGARCANE BAGASSE

Abstract

The increasing energy demand in contrast to the difficulties encountered in obtaining fossil fuels, threatens the productivity of modern industry. In this context, the use of bagasse derived from sugarcane mills may represent not only an environmental alternative, as a source of capital, both in power generation, as in the production of chemical intermediates. The Brazil in particular is highlighted in the production of sugarcane, bagasse being an abundant and inexpensive waste. Thus, the present work deals with one of the alternative to its use: the generation of levulinic acid from the acid hydrolysis. Thus, a kinetic study was performed to find the best for this production. The reaction studied showed low residence time (8.5 s) and high conversion of cellulose (99.9%). The optimum conditions Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) operation were 150 ° C at a concentration of sulfuric acid 0.55 mol / L.  Process flow diagram (PFD) was developed and mass and energy balance was performed using Aspen Hysys software. It was obtained then the levulinic acid with 99% purity and a favorable economic analysis, with a return rate of 25.3% per year, and a payback time of 2.5 years.