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Recovery of Natural Pyrazines and Alcohols from Fusel Oils Using an Innovative Extraction Installation
Waldemar Studziński1, Michał Podczarski2, Justyna Piechota3
1Department of Food Analysis and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Seminaryjna 3, 85-326 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Abstract:
The production of spirits generates significant amounts of waste in the form of fusel oils-previously treated mainly as an environmental problem. This paper presents an innovative installation designed to recover valuable components from this difficult waste. The key achievement is the effective separation and recovery of pyrazine derivatives-natural aromatic compounds with high utility value in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. The designed system allows for the recovery of as much as 98% of pyrazines and isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol fractions with a purity above 96%, which is a significant advance compared to previous disposal methods. The installation was designed to be consistent with the idea of a circular economy, maximizing the use of by-products and minimizing losses. The results of the work indicate that fusel oils, previously perceived as waste, can become a source of valuable secondary raw materials, and the presented solution opens up new possibilities for the sustainable development of the alcohol industry.

