(669h) The Use of Amazonian Biomass for Small Biorefineries Serving Small Communities in the Rainforest

The Amazon region is one of the richest biodiversity places in the world, with great potential for the development of natural products.

Currently, countries like Brazil, Ecuador and Peru, are successfully marketing products from the Amazonian biota. However, due to the geographical features of this forest, many logistics and economic problems appears; such is the case of the small Amazonian community of San Francisco.

Knowing logistical constraints in the Amazon and especially in the San Francisco region without terrestrial connections to country center local alternatives of development are needed. Cocoa is one of these initiatives intended to apply the biorefinery concept, which is analogous to what is commonly known as the oil refinery.

A techno-economic analysis for cocoa production on a biorefinery concept for San Francisco case is presented. A production schedule comprised three stages: pretreatment, extraction and product concentration. A simulation procedure uses software Aspen Plus and Aspen Process economic analyzer package (Aspen Technologies Inc.).  Additionally, analysis of some strategies from as seals of origin, which can increase competitiveness and marketing of products obtained are included.

The base for calculations was the composition found experimentally. The products of the biorefinery were antioxidant extract, oil seed, lactic acid and ash. As a result, the feasibility of the small biorefinery case was demonstrated.