Technoeconomic analysis of alternatives to improve Cuban sugarcane wax-refining technology using Superpro Designer

Abstract

Sugarcane wax is a co-product with strong potential. It contains several bioactive components that can be used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes. It is also considered a substitute for leading vegetable waxes in the international market. The extraction and refining technologies that have been reported in Cuba do not always manage to deliver a wax that meets the quality demanded by the market. This problem can be solved with the development of innovative technologies that allow increasing yields, higher quality, and the reduction of costs. The main objective of this work was to achieve a validated model of the Cuban sugarcane wax-refining process using the SuperPro Designer simulator, and to evaluate the alternatives in order to reduce consumption rates and increase stability in the final product quality, as customers demand. The model successfully replicated 39 out of 44 variables used for process validation, with values falling within the historical range of the process. Deviations from historical values were less than 4 percentage points. Among the proposed modifications, the second of the two alternatives proposed resulted in lower consumption rates and more consistent quality of refined wax.