Project outcome
- An economic assessment of combined furfural and ethanol production using Aspen Plus® simulations based on local experimental data
Focus areas
- Kinetics of furfural production
- Combined furfural and ethanol production
- Economic optimisation
The manufacture of bio-based chemicals from bagasse is seen as a key route to enhancing the value derived from sugarcane, which is urgently required to enhance the sustainability of the industry. However, the costs of chemical processing of the bagasse fiber are still high due to the complex nature of the fiber. This project seeks to develop and model an integrated process to manufacture both ethanol and furfural from bagasse, thereby increasing the revenue derived, while at the same time minimizing the requirement for additional fuels for powering the factory.
Prof. Johann Görgens
Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University