A National Bioethanol

Laboratory
Nations all around the globe are searching for renewable energy sources capable of partially substituting petroleum derivatives. Among the possible winners of the energetic dispute is a Brazilian representative: ethanol from sugarcane. Data from the Ethanol Project (2005) show that Brazil has the potential to substitute 10% of the global demand for gasoline with bioethanol in 2025 if some signicant technological challenges can be overcome. For this ambitious objective to be achieved, investment in basic science and innovation applied to the productive cycle of Brazilian ethanol is fundamental. This investment is beginning to taking shape with the creation of the Bioethanol Science and Technology Center (CTBE) in Campinas, Brazil. Operated by the Brazilian Association for Synchrotron Light Technology (ABTLuS), by a management contract with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), the CTBE will dedicate efforts to the scientic improvement of subjects related to sugarcane ethanols present productive bottlenecks. The nal objective is the development of an efcient and sustainable technology for the conversion of the biomass of this plant into renewable chemical energy.

Research

Science
The development of a commercial technology for the production of cellulosic ethanol requires the deepening of scientic knowledge involved in all of the stages if this process (such as the action of enzymes on the lignocellulosic material, the molecular structure of the components of sugarcane etc.). To this end, a team of scientists from the most varied areas will work in a transdisciplinary form, on the main scientic and technological obstacles to the production cycle of ethanol from cane. A good part of the success of CTBEs other programs will depend on the success of the basic science carried out be these professionals.

Programs
Initially, the CTBE will develop five research programs directed to the scientific, technological and agricultural sectors and to sustainability (economic, social and environmental) of sugarcane ethanol, which are:

Pilot Plant for Process Development (PPDP)

One of the Centers agships, the PPDP will carry out research related to the sugarcane/ethanol cycle on a semi-industrial scale, an unprecedented achievement in the Brazil. In the quality of a National Laboratory, scientists from all of world will be able to utilize the CTBEs sophisticated installations to verify if experiments performed in the laboratory are equally effective on larger scales (which better represent the operational conditions of the industrial processes). At the same time, companies will be able to improve technologies in development through the execution of trials on a scale smaller than those used commercially. Finally, the CTBE intends to utilize its Pilot Plant to develop new production techniques for cellulosic ethanol and products with high aggregated value from sugarcane.

Sustainability
The researchers working on this program are attempting to evaluate the impacts on the sustainability of the sugarcane/ethanol cycle caused by alternative ethanol production processes (or diverse products resulting from the cane plant) in comparison to the systems presently utilized in the sector. This analysis has the objective of identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the new technologies, in addition to proposing optimizations of the processes. Initially, the following aspects are indispensible for this examination: biofuels energy and greenhouse gases (GHG) emission balances; impacts due to the land use change (LUC), soil carbon stock changes and emissions of nitrous oxide; socio-economic impacts and the availability and quality of water resources.

www.bioethanol.org.br

Low Impact Mechanization for No-till Farming of Sugarcane

The objective of this program is to implement no-till farming system in the cane culture. Victorious in the agriculture of grains, this system reduces costs, better preserves the soils nutrients and utilizes water in a more rational way. To introduce no-till farming in the sugarcane elds, a concept of a less aggressive mechanization must be developed, a mechanization that permits the elimination of conventional operations of soil preparation. This led the CTBE to develop a Controlled Trafc Structure (ETC), equipment responsible for all operations of the agronomic cycle of cane. Among other benets, this machine should reduce the level of soil compactation and erosion through the use of an ample gauge (9m) that reduces the area of compacted soil from 60% to 13%.

Aware of its task, the Center intends to act as: I) a research Institute (National Laboratory), performing competitive RD&I for improving feedstock and conversion routes for bioethanol production from sugarcane; II) a partner of other research organizations working in related areas, through a network of associated laboratories in universities and research institutes; III) a technology supplier for the industry, providing strategic information on mutual concerns.

Virtual Sugarcane Biorenery

To measure the stage of development and success of the new technology for the production of ethanol and other products, the CTBE will develop a Virtual Sugarcane Biorenery. This tool will utilize mathematical modeling and computational simulation of processes to evaluate the economic, environmental and social sustainability of this technology, compared to a sectors standard production chain. It is expected that, in this way, the sector as a whole will be able to evaluate with anticipation the success of a technological innovation based on consistent data. Even the activities of the CTBEs technological development have much to gain with the use of this tool.

Infrastructure and

Opportunities

In 2010, the Bioethanol Science and Technology Center (CTBE) will inaugurate its research and technological development installations for internal researchers or researchers from any part of the world who carry out studies related to sugarcane bioethanol. All together, approximately 50 permanent researchers (beyond visitors, technicians and the administrative staff ) will occupy the 8700 m2 of infrastructure at the Center. In addition to the Pilot Plant for Processes Development (PPDP), laboratories for biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology, physical and chemical processes, development of microorganisms, enzymatic hydrolysis, alcoholic fermentation, among others, will be implemented. Collaborations or the possibility of using the installations by industry are also possible at the CTBE. With regard to career opportunities, this new National Laboratory of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) is searching for professionals, (researchers, technicians and post-graduate students) who work with, among other topics: - pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse; - development of microorganisms and processes related to enzymatic hydrolysis; - new strategies for physical, chemical or biological transformation of sugars into ethanol; - fundamental investigation of the photosynthesis of cane and other processes for chemical conversion of energy;

- development of sensors for monitoring the soil and the plant, with the objective of implementing precision agriculture in its widest sense; - sustainability studies related to the production of ethanol in Brazil; - application of modeling tools and computational simulation to the various concepts of biorenery. One of the main challenges to be faced by the scientists of the CTBE will be to build and act upon a scientic agenda in the area of ethanol that can resolve the challenges of the Brazilian technological agenda.

Bioethanol Science and Technology Center - CTBE Campus Address: Giuseppe Mximo Scolfaro Street, 10.000 Polo II de Alta Tecnologia - Campinas-SP, Brazil. Correspondence: Caixa Postal 6170, CEP 13083-970 Phone: +55 (19) 3512 1010 / Fax: +55 (19) 3518 3104 - www.bioethanol.org.br

Basic science and innovation: actions for keeping Brazilian leadership regarding sugarcane/ethanol cycle. CTBEs mission.