Integration of banana crop residues as biomass feedstock into conventional production of first‐generation fuel ethanol from sugarcane: a simulation‐based case study

Sugar‐based feedstock of banana crop residues (pseudostem, peel, and rejected fruits) were integrated into first‐generation sugarcane ethanol production through simulated proposals using Aspen Hysys®. Different contents of sugars (6.5, 10, 15, 20, and 22 wt%) in the concentrated broth from banana residues were evaluated. The increase in sugar content in the broth led to an increase of 25% in the energy requirement of the evaporation stage. However, there was a reduction up to 55.31% in the energy requirement of the ethanol recovery stage with 22 wt% of sugar content. Addition of residue broth of 6.5, 10 and 15 wt% until the sugarcane broth is diluted by 20 wt% led to an increase in fermentation volume of 14.3, 19.2 and 39.7%, and an increase in ethanol productivity of 4.1, 7.9 and 26.1%, respectively. The integration of banana crop residues for a scaled‐up process showed technical viability, producing 21.97 ton h –1 of ethanol 99.50 wt%, although energy requirements of biomass pretreatment steps are still a limiting factor for the industry. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd