Etanol, meio ambiente e tecnologia Reflexões sobre a experiência brasileira

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to present a reflection about the main environmental and technological aspects of producing and consuming ethanol from sugar cane in Brazil. By analyzing the whole production processes of ethanol from sugar cane it became clear that the strategic use of byproducts is essential for the sustainability of the production chain. On the other hand, the burning of the sugar cane before harvesting and the expansion of the cane monoculture are still two issues that need to be addressed. The paper demonstrates that ethanol production from sugar cane contributes to the environment sustainability and that the use of this renewable fuel is favorable regarding fossil fuels.