Mar 12, 2014

The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has approved non-reimbursable financial support to the tune of R$ 21.9 million to develop technology to convert sugarcane biomass into ethanol.

The operation, together with the National Center for Research of Energy and Materials (CNPEM), is within the scope of the BNDES-Finep’s Joint Plan to Support Industrial Technological Innovation in Sugarcane Sectors (PAISS),whose previously-approved operations (eight in total) amount to R$ 1.27 billion.

Support for CNPEM, with resources from the BNDES’ Technological Fund (BNDES Funtec), represents 90% of the total to be invested in the project. The operation uses the route of enzymatic hydrolysis to break pulp down into sugars, which are later fermented by genetically-modified microorganisms. 

Involved in the operation are companies such as Dow Brasil Sudeste Industrial Ltda And DSM South America Ltda., which are responsible for the remaining 10%. Besides the main aim, the project contributes to strengthening the capacity-building of Brazilian research teams, while broadening the country’s competence in developing new technologies to convert sugarcane biomass.

The CNPEM is a private non-profit association that brings together four technological and scientific research units: the National Laboratory for Synchrotron Light (LNLS), the National Laboratory of Biosciences (LNBio), the National Laboratory of Nanotechnology (LNNano) and the National Laboratory for Bio-ethanol Science and Technology (CTBE), all with equipment open to studies from the academic and business community in Brazil and abroad.