Abstract: The process comprises the steps of: distributing a sugarcane load, with mineral and vegetable impurities, on a conveyor belt (12), forming thereon a sugarcane and impurity mattress; submitting the mattress to a dosing and spreading operation, forming a thin and dispersed curtain in gravitational displacement in a first chamber portion (15); submitting the sugarcane and impurity curtain to a transversal and ascending forced air flow, displacing the impurities outwards from the curtain to the interior of a first collecting compartment (21) and of a second and a third chamber portion (22 and 27); deflecting the fraction of forced air flow, received in the third chamber portion (27), obtusely in a plurality of adjustable “Persian blinds” (28), decompressing the air flow; discharging the clean sugarcane load and the impurities through a clean sugarcane lower outlet (19) and through impurity outlets (21a, 23a and 26a).

Abstract: A process is proposed for recovery of water in the sugar cane processing in production mills of sugar and alcohol or only alcohol (ethanol). In the process, the thermal energy available in the exhausted steam from the electric energy generation turbines is transferred to the different mixed juice processing phases, with the reuse of the exhausted steam condensates in the boilers and of the other condensates, after using thermal energy, for imbibition, in the juice extraction phase, for cooling in the process, after passing through cooling towers, for other industrial uses and for possible treatment or use in the irrigation out of the productive system in the mill.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure swing adsorption process, also known as PSA process, which is modified with a view to utilizing the heat from the post-adsorption stream coming from the molecular sieves to heat/vaporize the pre-adsorption stream containing the hydrated product or the mixture component(s) to be adsorbed in said sieves. The present invention provides alternative arrangements for the heat exchanger system in order to use the thermal potential of the post-adsorption stream with the elimination or minimization of the risk of a slug flow regime in the exchangers, the so-called “gush,” which would be a natural result from the periodic oscillation characteristic of PSA processes. With this, the vapor consumption with the modified process according to the present invention is considerably reduced.

Abstract: A process is proposed for crystallizing, by progressively cooling, in multiple stages arranged in series in a crystallization vessel (10), a descending continuous flow of a saturated sucrose solution at a temperature from about 78° to about 120° C., each stage maintaining the sucrose solution being crystallized at a predetermined temperature, until reaching a temperature from about 25 to 40° C., obtaining substantially pure sucrose crystals. A suspension containing sugar seeds is introduced in the crystallizing equipment, in the first stage, jointly with the saturated sucrose solution of 1.05-1.15. In another embodiment of the invention, the saturated solution is fed and its temperature is controlled, already in the first stage of the vessel (10), to obtain a supersaturation between 1.05 and 1.15, inducing the formation of small crystals used as crystallization seeds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a system for producing alcohol by distillation with energy optimization using split-feed technology. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of: a) splitting a stream of wine to feed two depuration columns , the depuration column generating a stream of phlegma and the depuration column generating a stream of phlegma and a stream of vinasse; b) feeding the stream of phlegma into at least one rectification column generating a top flow and a stream of hydrated alcohol; c) effecting the heat exchange between the top flow from at least one rectification column and the stream of vinasse from the depuration column in at least one heat exchanger; and d) feeding the stream of phlegma into a rectification column generating a stream of hydrated alcohol. The present invention further relates to hydrated alcohol produced by the process described above and to a process for producing anhydrous alcohol.

Abstract: A process is proposed for recovery of water in the sugar cane processing in production mills of sugar and alcohol or only alcohol (ethanol).

Abstract: Improvements in a process for rapid acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material and in a hydrolysis reactor, said lignocellulosic material being fed in different levels of a reactor and contacted with flows of lignin organic solvent, water and an extremely dilute solution of a strong inorganic acid, for obtaining a liquid phase of hydrolysis extract and a solid phase of non-reacted and non-dissolved material. A controlled steam flow is injected into the different levels of the reactor, so as to provide adequate temperatures of organic solvent and strong inorganic acid and forming the desired products (sugars). A flow of the liquid phase is recirculated in different levels of the reactor, the remainder thereof being withdrawn from the reactor, abruptly cooled with the solvent submitted to evaporation to obtain a concentrate. The lignin is transferred by decantation and the concentrate is transferred to subsequent process steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an organo-mineral fertilizer from vinasse, filter cake and generally boiler ashes, as byproducts of the sugar and/or alcohol manufacture and, optionally, complemented with fertilizer sources composed of macronutrients (primary and secondary) and micronutrients. The process comprises, in a preferred form of the invention, the steps of: concentrating the vinasse until about 65% of solids (p/p); mixing and dissolving the fertilizer elements in the concentrated vinasse; mixing and drying the filter cake and ashes in a hot gas stream obtained by burning bagasse or fine straw; impregnating this dry mixture with the concentrated vinasse mixture and the added fertilizer agents; and, finally, drying and granulating the final formulated mixture. The end product is a granular solid containing N, P, K, Ca, S, Mg and micronutrients, according to the previously programmed formulation.

Abstract: A process is proposed for crystallizing, by progressively cooling, in multiple stages arranged in series in a crystallization vessel (10), a descending continuous flow of a saturated sucrose solution at a temperature from about 78° to about 120° C., each stage maintaining the sucrose solution being crystallized at a predetermined temperature, until reaching a temperature from about 25 to 40° C., obtaining substantially pure sucrose crystals. A suspension containing sugar seeds is introduced in the crystallizing equipment, in the first stage, jointly with the saturated sucrose solution of 1.05-1.15. In another embodiment of the invention, the saturated solution is fed and its temperature is controlled, already in the first stage of the vessel (10), to obtain a supersaturation between 1.05 and 1.15, inducing the formation of small crystals used as crystallization seeds.

Abstract: Improvements in a process for rapid acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material and in a hydrolysis reactor, said lignocellulosic material being fed in different levels of a reactor and contacted with flows of lignin organic solvent, water and an extremely dilute solution of a strong inorganic acid, for obtaining a liquid phase of hydrolysis extract and a solid phase of non-reacted and non-dissolved material. A controlled steam flow is injected into the different levels of the reactor, so as to provide adequate temperatures of organic solvent and strong inorganic acid and forming the desired products (sugars). A flow of the liquid phase is recirculated in different levels of the reactor, the remainder thereof being withdrawn from the reactor, abruptly cooled with the solvent submitted to evaporation to obtain a concentrate. The lignin is transferred by decantation and the concentrate is transferred to subsequent process steps.