Sustainable sugarcane vinasse biorefinement for trans-aconitic acid-based biopolymer synthesis and bioenergy generation

This study aimed at developing a multiproduct biorefinery scheme for vinase valorization. It involved the extraction of trans-aconitic acid, its transformation into biopolymers using microwave irradiation and the use of the raffinated-vinasse for biogas production. Each technology was assessed individually, followed by a process integration at bench scale, from which a mass balance was calculated, supporting the feasibility of the approach. As a renewable source derived from a residue, these bioproducts can replace crude-oil-based materials in various chemical industrial processes; however, a detailed techno-economic and life-cycle analysis are required to defined the sustainability of the process