The Process
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Process Description
The process begins with the cultivation of 20,000 acres of sugarcane
that yields 1,200,000 tons of harvested cane annually. During a 120 day
harvest, this material is processed into Sugar, Bagasse, Molasses,
Ethanol, Carbon Dioxide, Power and Cattle-feed. Bagasse and field trash
will be burned to generate enough steam and electricity to meet the
needs of both cane and beet processing plants with a surplus of power
being available for the local grid.
By utilizing the most advanced conversion technologies in a setting
that includes the existing sugar beet processing plant, Imperial
Bioresources LLC will accomplish production of an array of products that
are in high demand. By devising a system that is structured around the
least cost raw feed-stock and the best plant integration to extract the
utmost value-added in each final product, the system is geared to
economic viability in such a way that there is no significant reliance
in any one product.
Firstly, there is the Beet Processing Plant, yielding refined
sugar and beet pulp which is a desirable cattle feed material. Instead
of fortifying the nutritional value of the pulp with molasses, this
molasses can be diverted to the ethanol process.
Secondly, there is the cane processing, yielding raw cane
sugar, molasses, and bagasse (the spent fiber fraction following the
extraction of sugar juice). The molasses is fed to the ethanol plant, as
is any excess of bagasse not required once the facility energy needs are
met.
Energy for this combined process facility is provided through the
combustion of bagasse and other available biomass materials to generate
power and process steam.
In summary the process could yield at least two grades of sugar, one
refined and one raw, to be delivered into existing markets subject to
certain quotas. The molasses and bagasse materials fed to the ethanol
process will yield a single grade of ethanol, tailored for use directly
as a blend with gasoline eliminating the need for using MTBE. The
production of ethanol yields substantial quantities of carbon dioxide
that has utility in the sugar clarification process as well as in the
industrial grade carbon dioxide market.
Instead of having just beet pulp for cattle feed, the new facility
will continue to produce this product and will also deliver large
quantities of bagasse and stillage solids for animal feed blending, at a
value set by available competing materials.
