German A Barrera
Consulting engineer, Cali, Colombia; germanabarrera@gmail.com
Environmental projects can now generate value-added products using different technologies, utilizing existing vinasse volumes and approaching zero-effluent models. These new technologies can use all the available vinasse or create mixed models that share vinasse with existing use options such as fertigation and composting. The results obtained from vinasse drying, biogas production or direct combustion projects make it possible to identify the use of large quantities of vinasses to produce fuels and products for other industries or sectors. Among these uses, vinasse is seen as a desirable input, similar to what happened with bagasse in the last two decades, when it was used to produce energy, paper or second-generation alcohol. Different biomass and waste alternatives (vegetable and/or animal) and their use at an industrial level are analyzed, concluding that sugarcane bagasse and vinasse have the greatest potential for generating value-added projects at an industrial scale. The availability of significant quantities in one place, with organic and inorganic materials, carbon compounds and other elements, permits the transformation of vinasse into commercial products. The options available today for the utilization of vinasse by dehydration, biogas and direct boiler-combustion technologies are presented.