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Keeping In Mind That 83% Of The Brazilian Energy Matrix Comes From Renewable Energies, Valmet Created A Technology That Can Increase That Number By Replacing Fossil Fuels Such As Natural Gas, Diesel, And Petroleum With Purified Methanol
After the Ministry of Mines and Energy conducted a survey stating that Brazil has about 83% of its energy matrix derived from renewable sources, including hydroelectric, biomass, wind, and solar systems, Valmet, a leading company in creating and providing technologies and services for the cellulose, paper, energy, and automation sectors, developed an incredible solution for purifying the methanol produced at the cellulose plant, which can replace fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas.
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According to Filipe Centenaro, process engineer at Valmet in South America, the technology ensures higher quality compared to the traditional methanol factory. Through the new method, this byproduct of the factory becomes an efficient fuel that can surpass natural gas and petroleum.
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Due to its reduced environmental impact, its application within the cellulose factory is quite flexible. In addition to saving natural resources, Valmet’s methanol purification process can also open doors to new applications, both inside the factory and for external consumers.
The Ease of Acquiring The Material That Could Replace Fossil Fuels
Valmet’s new technology can be applied with the modernization of methanol liquefaction plants, both to reduce environmental impact or for its use as a raw material.
According to the engineer, the advantages of purifying the material range from its use as an input in the chemical plant, or as fuel in factories, and even in the commercialization of the purified product, which could take the place of fossil fuels such as natural gas, diesel, and petroleum.
A cellulose plant with a production of 1 million tons of cellulose per year produces more than 35 tons of methanol per day. Just by directly substituting petroleum, savings can reach several million dollars per year, estimates the Valmet engineer.
New Technology Will Expand The Usefulness Of Methanol
According to Centenaro, the potential application of the chemical compound that can replace fossil fuels is vast, but its most likely use is within the cellulose factory where it is produced. For it to be marketed in the market as a commodity, the purity of methanol must reach the IMPCA level, which is an international quality standard.
However, not all applications require this purity, which can significantly improve the cost of implementation and payback. Many cellulose factories buy fossil methanol to produce chlorine dioxide in the chemical plant, thus, substituting it with forest-based methanol would bring savings in the millions per year.
Another advantage of the material that could replace natural gas, diesel, and petroleum is the increased production of cellulose pulp when the fuel side in the recovery boiler is the bottleneck of the plant. The best feature of methanol is its ability to allow its use in other applications without impacting emissions increases.
Formado em Jornalismo e Marketing, é autor de mais de 20 mil artigos que já alcançaram milhões de leitores no Brasil e no exterior. Já escreveu para marcas e veículos como 99, Natura, O Boticário, CPG – Click Petróleo e Gás, Agência Raccon e outros. Especialista em Indústria Automotiva, Tecnologia, Carreiras (empregabilidade e cursos), Economia e outros temas. Contato e sugestões de pauta: valdemarmedeiros4@gmail.com. Não aceitamos currículos!
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