UFT inaugurates sweet potato ethanol plant.
The Federal University of Tocantins (UFT) and the Superintendency for the Development of the Amazon (Sudam) will inaugurate this Monday, the 23rd, on the UFT campus in Palmas, a sweet potato ethanol plant; according to Rector Márcio da Silveira, the project is important because it allows the inclusion of approximately 20 million people from the northern region of Brazil, who are excluded from the opportunities generated by biofuels; according to UFT, sweet potatoes have a higher production capacity than sugarcane in the production of ethanol, both hydrated and anhydrous.
Tocantins 247 - The Federal University of Tocantins (UFT) and the Superintendency for the Development of the Amazon (Sudam) will inaugurate the Amazon Social Ethanol Production program and a sweet potato ethanol plant this Monday, the 23rd, on the UFT campus in Palmas. The ceremony will be attended by the rector of UFT, Professor Márcio Silveira, and the head of Sudam, Djalma Bezerra Mello.
The alternative of biofuel production arises from the impossibility of financing sugarcane planting in the Amazon due to Central Bank Resolution No. 3813/2009, which prohibits the cultivation of this product in the Amazon. According to research from UFT (Federal University of Tocantins), sweet potatoes have a higher production capacity than sugarcane in the production of ethanol, both hydrated and anhydrous.
According to the project's creators, sweet potatoes have several advantages over other vegetables used to produce ethanol, as they do not require burning and can remain underground for up to 14 months. One ton of sweet potatoes can produce up to 170 liters of alcohol and 300 kilograms of wet residue, which can be transformed into 150 kilograms of bran with the same protein content as soybean bran.
Through the partnership between Sudam and UFT, it was possible to create an industrial plant for the production of ethanol from this raw material. In addition to learning details about the program, the guests will participate in a demonstration of ethanol production at the mini-plant, located on the University campus.
Rector Silveira emphasizes that the project is important because it enables the inclusion of approximately 20 million people from the northern region of Brazil, who are currently excluded from the opportunities generated by biofuels. "Sweet potatoes create an important production alternative for small and medium-sized producers. Even with already cleared areas – that is, without deforestation – it is already possible to produce biofuel, a good quality ethanol."
The event will take place starting at 9:30 AM in the auditorium of the Integrated University Center for Science, Culture and Art, on the UFT campus in Palmas.