Assessment of the Benefits of Supplementation of Wort from Sugarcane with Inorganic Nutrients in the Bioethanol Production Process

The scarcity of essential minerals in the wort used for bioethanol production has long been a persistent concern in industrial processes. This scarcity can negatively impact various aspects of production, including yeast cell vitality and sugar-to-ethanol conversion. In this study, we assessed the nutritional profile of key components of the industrial bioethanol production process and identified nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and copper ions deficiencies. Supplementation of fermentation assays with ^TMNitrofós was carried out until reaching the maximum allowed for manganese (24.5%), zinc (49.4%), and copper (8.8%). Laboratory-scale fermentation assays were conducted under varying conditions of soluble solids in the wort (20, 24, and 26°Brix). These experiments aimed to assess the primary productivity parameters in response to the application of ^TMNitrofós. Results showed that fermentations using wort with 24 and 26°Brix supplemented with ^TMNitrofós led to 7% higher fermentative efficiency compared to the control group. The supplemented fermentations demonstrated higher levels of cellular vitality (76.6%) compared to the control group (55.3%). Considering a scale-up in the bioethanol production process with ^TMNitrofós supplementation, an increase of 266 m³ of ethanol per month was achieved compared to the control group, resulting in cost savings of R$ 586,879.20.

Graphical Abstract