Produção de álcool combustível a partir de carboidratos

Abstract

Since the beginning of automobilist industry, ethanol has been considered as a viable fuel. In fact, Henry Ford developed his motor adapted for functioning with alcohol and gasoline. However, as gasoline became cheaper and more available than alcohol, this fuel weren't considered as viable until the economic and petroleum crisis of 1929 and 1970's, respectively. Thus, initially, political aspects justified the ethanol production. Now, the emphasis is on reducing pollution and limiting the global warming. Although in Brazil the sugar cane use for ethanol producing is very successful, other raw materials should be considered in the future, for enabling its production in regions without agricultural vocation for that culture, or inclusion of small farmers using amilaceous products as cassava and sweetpotato, or, with the utilization of lignollulosic materials when it becomes a commercial reality. Therefore this paper treats of the technical aspects of fuel-alcohol production using carbohydrates, considering the main advantages, difficulties and technical innovations in their use.