Etanol sustentável a partir de papelão: uma solução ambientalmente consciente para a indústria de biocombustíveis de segunda geração

Abstract

The production of bioethanol from cardboard is a process that involves transforming cardboard waste into a renewable energy source, ethanol. This method is part of a sustainable approach to waste recycling and alternative fuel generation. Bioethanol produced from cardboard can be used as a fuel in vehicles, being mixed with gasoline in different proportions, thus reducing dependence on fossil fuels and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This approach has the potential to reduce the amount of cardboard waste in landfills, as well as to offer a renewable and sustainable energy source, contributing to the circular economy and reducing the environmental impact caused by the burning of fossil fuels. The aim of producing this bioethanol is to analyze the effects of pre-treatments, determining whether they significantly influence ethanol production or not. The process of producing bioethanol from cardboard involves several steps. Firstly, cardboard is collected and undergoes pre-treatment processes, where two different types are adopted: one using water at room temperature and the other using boiling. Then, it is crushed to facilitate the hydrolysis process. After preparing the material, the cardboard is subjected to an enzymatic hydrolysis process. In enzymatic hydrolysis, specific enzymes are used to perform this breakdown. Subsequently, the resulting sugars are fermented by yeast, which convert these sugars into ethanol. After fermentation, the resulting liquid is distilled to separate the ethanol from the solution, thus obtaining bioethanol. The results highlight the negative influence of boiling pre-treatment, where high temperatures cause changes in the chemical composition of the raw material, directly affecting ethanol production.