According to the organization, São Paulo requested 250,000 liters of the product, used in gel formulations. The announcement came after Anvisa authorized processing, which until now had been prohibited in the ethanol and sugar industries.
Unica announces production and donation of 70% alcohol. Evandro Gussi, president of the entity, confirmed this Friday (20) that associated plants will begin production and donation of the product to different states. The main objective is to expand the supply for sanitization in the public health system.
According to the Sugarcane Industry Union (Unica), which encompasses companies responsible for 60% of sugarcane production in Brazil, distribution of the product will be carried out in partnership with the Brazilian Association for Logistics Transportation of Hazardous Products (ABTLP). After authorization from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
This same initiative is being adopted by other ethanol and sugar mills not linked to the entity, as in the case of Goiás.
In addition to São Paulo, which has already requested 250,000 liters of the product, Rio Grande do Sul has requested 90,000 liters. Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro are also expected to submit requests. The date for the start of distribution, however, has not yet been confirmed.
"We're still receiving requests from state health departments. São Paulo is expected to require something like 250,000 liters. We already have a request for 90,000 liters from the Rio Grande do Sul Health Department. Espírito Santo is finishing its account, as is Rio de Janeiro, and we, on the other side, are organizing which Unica member units this alcohol will come from," he says.
UNICA still needs to determine which plants will produce 70% ethanol. Until now, the process, which has been banned by Anvisa for plants in the sector, generally involves reducing the concentration of ethanol. This means that part of the product remains in a liquid state, and part in a gel.
Once produced, the 70% ethanol will be sent to distribution centers in the states, where it will be bottled and transformed into gel. According to Gussi, the volume is small compared to the fuel generated by the plants.
"It can be used in the formulation of alcohol gel and will be used in several places, in universities, military and civilian institutes, and it will also be used in this 70% formulation for cleaning surfaces, which is super important now in public health units," he explains.
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