Sorbitec® planta de produção de sorbitol com foco na indústria farmacêutica

Abstract

Sorbitol is a sweet, odorless, non-carcinogenic, flavored polyalcohol in the form of a white crystalline powder with a molecular weight of 182.17 g/mol, with 60% sweetness compared to sucrose. It is present in many types of food, pharmaceutical products, among others. Until then, the Sorbitol trade in Brazil is only through imports, without manufacturing here in the country. The amount of Sorbitol imported to Brazil per year is 6000 tons, and tends to grow even more until the year 2021. With this information, Sorbitec® aims to start production of this product, which is important on the day to day from various industries. Thus, we selected the technological route that achieves the purest product possible, using a catalyst, so as to happen a hydrogenation of glucose. Another point of the project was the search for a hydrogen recuperator, aiming at 100% of its reuse. The sizing of the chosen process was performed considering the processing of 600 tons per year, aiming to occupy 10% of the national importation Sorbitol market. This refers to approximately 1818 kg of sorbitol per day. From the economic analysis of the plant, it was found that the financial return is obtained around 5 years.