The document discusses second generation biofuels produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks. It summarizes the status of different technologies being developed to produce ethanol, butanol, and diesel equivalents from biomass sources. The sustainability and environmental benefits of these biofuels are also examined, including significant potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. Barriers to commercialization are noted but large-scale production is expected within the next decade.

1. Second Generation Biofuels from Lignocellulosic
Feedstocks: Technology and Sustainability Issues
Biocombustibles de Segunda Generación de Matérias
Primas Lignocelulósicas: Tecnologia y Sustentabilidad
Alfred Szwarc
32ª Conferencia Regional de la FAO para America Latina y el Caribe
Buenos Aires - 27/03/2012

2. ABOUT UNICA
• UNICA is the leading sugarcane industry
association, representing approximately
140 mills in Brazil (most in the São Paulo
State).
• Member companies respond for over 50%
of ethanol and over 60% of sugar
production in Brazil and are leaders in the
generation of bioelectricity.
• International presence in
Washington, DC, and Brussels to engage
in constructive dialogue with
stakeholders.

3.  Why Biofuels
 Status of Second Generation Biofuels from
Lignocellulosic Feedstocks
 Technology & Sustainability Issues

4. Source: Vital Signs 2007-08, Worldwatch Institute

5. Oil Supply Vulnerability
Oil is a very precious and finite
commodity subject to supply
disruptions and price volatility
IEA forecasts  global energy needs
will grow over 50% today’s demand by
2030 and oil will still be a major source
of energy (price, availability ???)
Transportation will be the main driver
of oil consumption  alternatives ?

6. Global Warming
TRANSPORT: ~ 25% of Global CO2 Emission
SOURCE: IPCC 2001

7. Greenhouse Gases: Emission Control Scenarios
Gigatonnes de CO2e
+ 6°C + 3°C + 2°C
Source: IEA World Energy Outlook 2008 CCS: Carbon capture & storage

8. Current View of Second Generation Biofuels
• Ethanol
• Butanol
• Diesel equivalent
• Gasoline equivalent
• Jet Fuel equivalent
Decentralized production.
Can be readily integrated with
existing fuel infrastructure.
Note: Biodiesel from vegetable oils and
animal fat not included here.

9. Biofuels Market

10. Biofuels Demand Evolution
1972 - 2008
Source: Special Report on Renewable Energy, IPCC, May 2011

11. Brazilian Energy Matrix
Energy Supply Structure
Other renewable
sources
Uranium
Coal 3,8% 1,4%
Natural Gas 4,8%
8,8%
Wood and other Petroleum and
biomass bi-products
10,1% 37,9%
Sugarcane
18,1%
Hydroelectricity
15,2%
Source: BEN (2010). Elaboration: UNICA

12. Second Generation Lignocellulosic Biofuels
Biomass = celullose + hemicelullose + lignin (sugarcane
bagasse, wheat straw, corn stalk, wood waste, rice hulls etc.)
Technologies use combination of processes (mechanical,
thermal, chemical, biological).
Example:
Pre-treatment Saccharification Fermentation
(hydrolysis)

13. Main Technology Paths
Chemical/Biochemical: acid/enzimatic
hydrolysis
Feedstocks
Termochemical: Gasification
(approx. 1000 °C)
Termochemical: Pyrolysis
(approx. 450 °C)

14. Key Players
• Oil & Car Companies: Petrobrás, Shell, BP, Chevron, Total,
ConocoPhilips, Neste Oil, Statoil, VW, GM, Ford, Daimler etc.
• R&D&D companies and
organizations:
Amyris, LS9, Solazyme, Butamax, B
utalco, Gevo, Cobalt, Iogen, Poet, A
bengoa, Sekab, Borregard, Vereniu
m, Coskata, Chempolis, Virent, Blu
eFire, Alico, Range
Fuels, Catchlight
Energy, Choren, Iowa State
U./Ames
Lab, NREL, U.California, MCT, Embr
apa, FAPESP
(BIOEN), UFRJ, CTC, UNICAMP, UFS
CAR, IPT, CTBE, Dedini, Oxiteno, Gr
aalBio etc.

15. Not Only Biofuels.....
Source: Amyris

16. The Case of Ethanol
Sugarcane Juice +
Conventional 1 hectare 7,000 liters of ethanol
Molasses
12,500 liters of
Sugarcane Juice ethanol... or more
Conventional 1 hectare + Molasses + (7,000 L from juice +
+ Cellulose Bagasse + Straw 5,500 L from
bagasse and straw)

17. Technology Status
Product Laboratory Pilot Plant Demonstration Market
Plant
Ethanol 1st
generation
Ethanol 2nd
generation
BioHC (Diesel, Jet
Fuel etc)
Butanol 2nd
generation
Commercial scale plants are expected to start operation within next three
years but it will take at least a decade until production reach significant
volumes.
Best technologies: ???

18. A TYPICAL SUGARCANE INDUSTRIAL PLANT IN BRAZIL: SUGAR,
BIOELETRICITY AND BIOENERGY (ETHANOL AND MORE TO COME…)
2nd gen.
ethanol
Ethanol storage tanks Distillery Sugar plant
2nd gen. Bagasse
bioHC &
bioButanol
Sugar cane field
Straw (tops & leaves)

19. The Concept of Biorefineries
• Integration of biomass conversion technologies
• Broad range of byproducts (food, energy, biofuels,
chemicals, materials, animal feed etc.)
• Efficient use of feedstocks and resources
• Minimum generation of residues and pollutants
• Best environmental, social and economic results

20. Carbon Dioxide Cycle

21. Life Cycle GHG Emissions
Farming & Harvesting Estimated values refer to 1,000 liters of
Emission: 2,961 kg ethanol and equivalent volume of gasoline
(corrected for energy content).
Sugarcane Processing
Emission: 3,604 kg
Sugarcane Growth
Uptake: 7,650 kg
Road Transport
Emission: 50 kg
Vehicle Operation Bioelectricity generation Gasoline Life-cycle
Emission: 1,520 kg Uptake: 225 kg Emission: 2,280 kg
Total: 8,135 kg CO2 Total: 7,875 kg CO2
Net emission: 260 kg CO2 (89% reduction to gasoline emission) 
reduced emission with lignocellulosic ethanol
Source: Macedo, I., 2008

22. Sugar Cane Diesel
“Drop In Fuel”
Sugarcane
Sugarcane Process
Diesel
CO2 Reduction ~ 90%
1 hectare = 4200 liters
The US EPA has already approved
Cloud point: - 50°C
bends with up to 35% sugarcane diesel.
Cetano nunber: 58,6
Sulfur: almost nil
In Brazil: tests with 10% blend :
Lubricity: 330 m (HFRR)
-9% PM and no NOx increase ;
Energy: similar to Diesel
Power, torque, fuel economy similar
Source: Amyris and MBB to ordinary diesel.

23. Avoiding Emission of Greenhouse Gases
Avoided CO2 emissions in Brazil from use of ethanol
in Flex Fuel Vehicles since 2003 to date (march/2012)
are estimated to be in the order of 160 million ton.
Equivalent to the effect of approximately 1,1 billion
trees over a period of 20 years.
2nd gen. ethanol can
further improve this
benefit !

24. Land Use
Sugarcane area for ethanol
production occupies 1.4% of
Brazilian arable lands
Millions of hectares
% arable
Brazil 851.4 % Brazil
land
Total arable land 329.9
87% of domestic
1. Total crop land 59.8 7.0% 18.1%
sugarcane harvest
Soybean 23.3 2.7% 7.1%
Corn 12.9 1.5% 3.9%
Sugarcane 9.2 1.1% 2.8%
Sugarcane for ethanol 4.6 0.6% 1.4%
2. Pastures 158.7 18.6% 48.1%
3. Protected areas and native vegetation 495.6 58.2% -
4. Available area 137.2 16.2% -
Note: Arable land (Censo IBGE 2006) 1) Total permanent and temporary crops (Censo IBGE 2006); Data for suybean, corn and sugarcane (IBGE 2010). 2)
Pastures (Censo IBGE 2006 3) Protected areas and native vegetation (Gerd Spavorek 2009, not published) APP = Permanent Preservation Area; UC =
Conservation Units and TI = Indigenous lands 4) Available area = arable land – Crop – Pastures. Source: ICONE and UNICA. Elaboration: UNICA.

25. Life Cycle GHG by Feedstock
Emissions avoided as the result of ethanol replacing gasoline
Ethanol from grains Ethanol from sugar Ethanol from sugar
(US / EU) beet (EU) cane (Brazil)
0%
-20%
-40%
-60%
-80%
-100%
Note: Reductions in well-to-wheel CO2-equivalent GHG emissions per km, from bioethanol comparared to gasoline,
calculated on a life-cycle basis. Source: IEA – International Energy Agency (May, 2004), based on a review of recent
articles. Prepared by Icone and Unica.

26. WORLD BIOFUELS PROGRAMS
Oil consumption
Current Mandates
In discussion

27. A View of the Future ?
Biofuel Filling Station
Sugarcane
Gasoline Ethanol & Butanol
Diesel
Blends
& Biodiesel
Reformer
H2
On-board
reformer
FFV Dedicated
Diesel Fuel Cell
Hybrids engines / FFV
Gasohol

28. BIOPLASTICS: A GROWING MARKET
 Sugarcane is now being used to replace
fossil fuel feedstocks.
 Various companies have begun to
produce and market bioplastics from
sugarcane ethanol and other bio-sources.
ource: Braskem, Johnson & Johnson, The Coca-Cola Company, Tetra-Pak, and “The Graduate” (1967)

29. UNICA SUPPORTS CERTIFICATION SCHEMES
What it is Goal
 Multistakeholder forum Promote sustainable production
of sugarcane based on
 producers, tradings, industries internationally accepted principles
and NGOs and measurable criteria and
encourage adoption of best
management and production
practices in line with the three
sustainable development pillars:
social development,
environmental protection and
economic progress.
Principles
1. Law compliance
2. Human rights labor standards
3. Higher efficiencies to enhance
sustainability
4. Management of biodiversity and
ecosystems
5. Improvement of business key
areas

30. Final Comments
 Food & biofuels production are not
incompatible  technology
innovation, political willingness and
sound policies can foster production of
both whenever possible.
 Energy demand and global warming
require sound and sustainable
alternatives  certification schemes and
incentives can both identify and
promote the best.

31. Thank you
Gracias
www.unica.com.br