Abstract
The rise in global population and industrialization reflects the increase in energy consumption. Fossil fuel still represents the major energy resource, but its non-renewable nature and the environmental impacts caused by its use have forced governments and industries to search for alternative energy sources, including ethanol. Sugarcane is the second most used feedstock for ethanol fuel production, accounting for 22% of global ethanol estimated at 27 billion L per year. Vinasse, a highly polluting nutrient-rich dark liquid, is the most expressive wastewater from this sector generated in huge volumes (10–14 L/L of ethanol). Fertigation has been its main destination; however, concerns about the harmful effects on soil and groundwater caused by nutrient lixiviation have increased the interest in innovative alternatives for the use and treatment of vinasse. This chapter discusses the potentialities of associating biopolymers with the treatment and valorization of this wastewater focusing on the sustainability of the process and generation of high-added value products.
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da Silva, M.A. et al. (2023). Biopolymers in Sugarcane Vinasse Treatment and Valorization. In: Ramawat, K., Mérillon, JM., Arora, J. (eds) Agricultural Waste: Environmental Impact, Useful Metabolites and Energy Production. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, vol 31. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8774-8_7
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