June 2026
Citrotec® International Follows Global Ethanol Industry Trends at FEW 2026
Participation in the world’s leading ethanol event strengthened the company’s international presence and highlighted solutions focused on energy efficiency and sustainability.
Citrotec® International participated in the 42nd edition of the Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW), held from June 2 to 4 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Considered one of the most important global events for the ethanol and biofuels industry, the conference brought together more than 2,300 professionals from over 30 countries to discuss trends, technologies, and the challenges shaping the future of the sector.
With a program focused on innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainability, FEW provides a strategic environment for knowledge exchange, technical updates, and business development, bringing together producers, suppliers, researchers, and specialists from across the ethanol value chain.
Marcelo Lippi, Project Manager and Business Developer at Citrotec® International, attended the event’s key discussions, strengthened relationships with industry companies, and presented solutions developed by the company to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive market driven by energy efficiency.
“Participating in FEW is an important opportunity to closely follow the trends transforming the ethanol industry, expand our network, and strengthen Citrotec®’s international presence. In addition, the event allows us to showcase our solutions and better understand the needs of the markets driving the sector’s growth,” said Lippi.
Trends Shaping the Future of the Industry
Among the main topics discussed at FEW 2026 were carbon capture and storage (CCS), the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), the pursuit of greater operational efficiency, and the development of higher-value co-products.
Another recurring theme was the growing importance of low-carbon biofuels. The market is becoming increasingly focused not only on production volumes but also on reducing emissions associated with the production process.
According to Lippi, one of the most evident trends observed during the event was the search for technologies capable of improving industrial plant efficiency. “There was a strong focus on solutions that reduce energy, steam, and water consumption while increasing plant productivity and competitiveness,” he explained.
Digitalization also played a prominent role, with the presentation of advanced monitoring tools, automation systems, and artificial intelligence solutions aimed at process optimization, yield improvement, and industrial maintenance.
In this context, technologies focused on thermal energy recovery, Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) systems, and high-efficiency equipment remain among the top priorities for new projects and plant modernization initiatives, including the ENET® MVR.
Citrotec® Solutions for Corn Ethanol Production
Attentive to the sector’s evolving demands, Citrotec® develops technologies that improve process efficiency and make corn ethanol production more sustainable.
The ENET® MVR is a single-effect, multi-stage turbulent mist evaporator that incorporates Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) technology. “The equipment enables the multiplication of bagasse utilization, which is particularly relevant for flex plants that produce both sugarcane and corn ethanol. With these energy savings, a corn ethanol plant can operate year-round without the need for supplementary fuels,” highlighted Lippi.
Ecovin® is a corn stillage concentration evaporator that utilizes descending turbulent mist technology. The solution significantly reduces stillage volume and allows the plant to operate in a closed-loop system, eliminating the need for field disposal by incorporating the stillage into DDG production. The system has a daily processing capacity of 130 m³.
Another highlight is Ecovin JL®, developed specifically for corn stillage concentration and directly integrated with distillation columns. This configuration allows ethanol to be produced with the stillage already concentrated, without additional steam consumption, increasing energy efficiency and reducing the plant’s operating costs.
