EVALUATION OF JUICE EXTRACTION FROM FILTERS TO PRODUCE TORULA YEAST IN A SUGAR FACTORY

Abstract

Introduction:
It has been decided to evaluate the possibilities of obtaining products derived from sugar cane in industrial facilities in the territory of Villa Clara also obtaining a benefit in the energy balance of the sugar factory. 
Objective:
To evaluate the percent of filter juice that can be optimally extracted to improve the energy balance of a Villa Clara sugar factory, having as destination a Torula yeast production plant annexed to it.
Materials and Methods:
The effect of the extraction of a fraction of juice from the filters on the energy balance of the plant was studied using mass and energy balances. The design methods of chemical industry facilities were used.
Results and Discussion:
It was obtained that the optimal percent of juice extraction from the filters is 20 %, achieving a profit of 1824435.40 $/year needing to buy 9427 t/year of missing molasses. The investment cost for 20 % extraction is $7797596.34 is profitable the investment having a total production cost of 4371490.21 $/year with profit of 2636509.79 $/year, NPV is $12900494.64, IRR 40 % and 3.1 years of payback period.
Conclusions:
The extraction of the juice from the filters of the sugar production process allows an energetic benefit to the technological process that can be used in new productions, which increases as the extraction percent increases.