Produção de etanol a partir do milho: revisão bibliográfica dos processos tecnológicos e comparação com a cana-de-açúcar no contexto energético brasileiro

Abstract

The growing demand for renewable energy sources and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have intensified the debate on the diversification of technological pathways for ethanol production in Brazil. Traditionally based on sugarcane, the Brazilian sugar-energy sector has progressively incorporated corn as a complementary feedstock, especially in regions with high grain production. This study aimed to analyze the main technological processes involved in ethanol production from corn, comparing them with the traditional sugarcane-based pathway within the Brazilian energy context. A systematized literature review with a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach was conducted through searches in scientific databases and institutional sources. The references were selected according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and analyzed through narrative synthesis, considering technological, energy, environmental, and economic indicators related to corn and sugarcane ethanol production. The results indicate that sugarcane ethanol production performs better in terms of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, whereas the corn-based pathway presents advantages related to the continuous availability of feedstock, operation during the sugarcane off-season, integration with flex plants, and the generation of high-value coproducts. The evidence suggests that the integration of these two production pathways may contribute to expanding production capacity, strengthening energy security, and promoting regional diversification of the biofuel sector in Brazil.