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The Discovery of CNPEM Gives New Use to Corn Ethanol and Generates Strong Impact in Renewable Fuels and Sustainable Development Areas.
The National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) has revealed a groundbreaking discovery that could transform the renewable fuels sector in Brazil and worldwide. A study conducted in Campinas, São Paulo, showed how the residual oil from corn ethanol distillation (DCO) can be converted into sustainable fuels, such as bio-jet fuel for aviation and green diesel.
The technology developed by CNPEM promises not only to boost the corn ethanol industry but also to strengthen the commitment to sustainability and innovation in Brazil.
Transformation of By-Products Is a Revolution in the Renewable Fuels Sector
The research, published in the renowned scientific journal Nature Communications, was conducted by the National Laboratory of Bio-renewables (LNBR) of CNPEM and identified a natural enzyme capable of transforming the distillation oil from corn ethanol into hydrocarbons.
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These compounds are very similar to those produced at oil refineries and can be used in the production of renewable fuels such as bio-jet fuel and green diesel, as well as plastics and cosmetics.
The discovery is considered a milestone for the advanced fuels industry, as DCO, currently underutilized, can now be efficiently used in the production of fuels and other industrial products.
The enzyme identified in the study has a significant advantage: it can act on raw materials with high levels of free fatty acids, such as DCO, and its action allows for the decarboxylation of the oil, removing oxygen from the fatty acids and transforming them into molecules with characteristics similar to refined products made from petroleum.
The Scientific Innovation in the Use of Enzymes for Sustainable Fuels
According to researcher Letícia Zanphorlin from CNPEM, one of the main leaders of the study, the significant challenge of the research was to find an enzyme capable of efficiently handling raw materials and industrial by-products.
The team not only found this enzyme but also fully elucidated its mode of action. The enzyme’s ability to withstand high temperatures and act directly on DCO represents a great advantage for the industrial application of this technology.
The research revealed the atomic structure of the enzyme through protein crystallography, conducted at Sirius, CNPEM’s 4th generation particle accelerator — one of three in operation worldwide.
This achievement allowed for a deeper understanding of how this enzyme can be applied to transform corn oil into renewable fuels.
The Impact of Corn Ethanol on Sustainability and Economy
Brazil, which is already a global leader in ethanol production, has a new opportunity to strengthen its renewable fuels industry with the discovery from CNPEM. In 2023, the country produced 145,700 tons of DCO in its corn ethanol industries, an amount that can be utilized for fuel production.
Globally, it is estimated that DCO production will reach 4.3 million tons per year, opening up a promising market for the technology developed in Campinas. Moreover, this innovation has a direct impact on sustainable development.
Corn ethanol is primarily produced in the Central-West and Southeast regions of Brazil, where corn is grown between soybean harvests, without the need to open new agricultural areas.
This means that transforming DCO into renewable fuels, such as bio-jet fuel and green diesel, contributes to a more efficient and sustainable production chain.
“CNPEM has been betting on solutions that promote sustainability more broadly, going beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and including issues related to the responsible use of natural resources and maintaining ecosystem balance,” says Eduardo Couto, director of LNBR.
With the application of this technology, Brazil can not only increase the competitiveness of the renewable fuels sector but also promote circularity in the corn production chain.
With information from TN Petróleo.
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