Brazil began testing ethanol production from rice

Two companies in the Río Grande do Sul (Brazil) have just begun to produce ethanol ethanol tests in the hope that this grain is used not only to meet food needs but also as an important source of raw materials. fuel preparation.

According to agricultural engineer Valdecir José Zonin, a biofuel expert at the State Department of Agriculture, the use of rice to produce ethanol will make this grain reserve fall, but create added value for this product.

According to the official, the production of rice for ethanol production is equivalent to sugarcane and higher than sorghum and wheat, and twice as high as soybean. One ton of rice will produce 420 liters of ethanol, while one ton of wheat will only be 400 liters.

However, Mr. Zonin said that the production of ethanol from rice has not been considered a priority, but a complementary solution. In the case of the Río Grande do Sul state, rice production reaches 7.5 million tons but only consumes 500,000 tons so rice can be used as raw material for biofuel production.

Despite this potential, the state has not considered the production of ethanol from rice on an industrial scale. One of the reasons is that Brazil does not yet have a legal framework to manage the preparation of ethanol from rice but only controls ethanol production from sugarcane.

The Center for Agricultural and Livestock Research in Brazil's temperate climates (Embrapa Clima Temperado) is developing a rice variety suitable for ethanol production, because it is twice as large as conventional and productive grains. productivity is almost double (up to 14 tons / ha).

The rice variety was introduced at this year's harvest opening ceremony in February, and will be released in 2013 or 2014.

In addition to testing the use of ethanol to prepare ethanol, the state of Río Grande do Sul strengthens the use of paddy rice husks as raw materials for the state's two thermal power plants.

Brazil's world leader in ethanol exports is prepared from sugarcane and products that Brazil is also the champion.