Brazilian soybean processor, biodiesel producer begins selling ethanol from soy molasses

Soybeans

Brazil’s sixth-largest biodiesel producer Caramuru Alimentos announced Aug. 16 it has started selling hydrous soy ethanol produced at its industrial complex in Sorriso, Mato Grosso, making it one of the first in Brazil—and the world—to produce soy ethanol on a commercial scale.

Ethanol is typically made from sugarcane in Brazil.

In the U.S., corn is the primary feedstock for ethanol production.

Caramuru’s hydrous soy ethanol is produced from soy molasses resulting from the processing of soy protein concentrate (SPC).

“In this process, the full potential of this raw material is reused with high energy efficiency, minimizing environmental impacts and maximizing the potential of the circular economy,” the company stated.

The unit in Sorriso has an annual capacity to produce about 2.5 million gallons of hydrous soy ethanol.

Of this, 72 percent will be sold on the Brazilian domestic market and 28 percent consumed at the plant as inputs.

“Currently, companies need to buy ethanol on the market and use it as a solvent to produce protein concentrate,” Caramuru stated. “With their own ethanol production, SPC industries are able to eliminate the need to purchase the input.”

In addition to hydrous ethanol being used as fuel for vehicles in Brazil (in the U.S. and much of the rest of the world, ethanol is used in its dehydrated form), it is also utilized as an industrial raw material, widely used in perfumes, cleaning materials, solvents and paints.

Caramuru also produces high-protein soybean meal, soy oil, lecithin and concentrated soy protein at the same site in Sorriso.

“When processing soy, electric energy (through cogeneration), biodiesel and hydrous ethanol will be produced simultaneously,” the company said.

“Although the production of ethanol using soy molasses is similar to that produced from sugarcane molasses, this other type of ethanol brings innovations,” Caramuru stated. “This is because, with the technology for its generation, the full potential of the soy raw material is used with high energy efficiency, minimizing environmental impacts. The production of soy ethanol in the industry reduces dependence on fuel generated by other raw materials and avoids new CO2 emissions, in addition to increasing the supply of nonfossil fuels. Another point is that the transformation of [soy] molasses into ethanol represents an increase in the added value of the product, which reduces costs and increases revenue.”

The project is considered pioneering and innovative, and it was financed by Financier of Studies and Projects (FINEP), an agency linked to Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

“We are very pleased to announce that Caramuru is now also selling soy ethanol,” said Caramuru CEO Júlio Costa. “This new activity confirms our spirit of always looking for new solutions within the sector, expanding our operations and occupying relevant spaces within agribusiness.”

Caramuru Alimentos is Brazil’s sixth-largest soybean processor with an annual capacity 2 million tons, second-largest corn processor with an annual capacity of 470,000 tons and sixth-largest biodiesel player with the capacity to refine 230,000 tons of soy, corn, sunflower and canola oils into more than 145 million gallons of biodiesel per year.

Caramuru has three plants certified for issuing decarbonization credits (CBIOs) within Brazil’s RenovaBio program.

The company is consolidated in the soy-, corn- and sunflower-processing market with a presence in the states of Goiás, Paraná, Mato Grosso, São Paulo, Pará and Amapá and has a wide range of products, serving consumers in all regions of Brazil.