Gestão e prevenção de infecção em moendas: um estudo de caso em uma usina sucroalcooleira

Abstract

Juice extraction is a very important parameter in a sugar and alcohol industry, as it interferes with production efficiency and quality in the sugar and alcohol manufacturing processes. Therefore, there is a need for a study on contamination within the industry that can be caused by poor quality cleaning, low quality raw materials and low process stability. In this sense, the objective of this work was to describe and evaluate the infection process in a sugarcane juice removal mill and its impacts on the manufacturing sector within the microbiological context in a plant located in the state of Alagoas. An exploratory analysis was carried out through a literature review addressing topics related to microbiological infection and removal, with plant analysis manuals and benchmarking with manufacturing units in the same segment of the state. Therefore, data collection and evaluation of critical points were carried out through on-site visits, field interviews and photographic records. The laboratory method of pH variation and bacteria plating was used to evaluate the points of shredded sugarcane, primary juice, residual juice, and mixed juice, and the Pareto Diagram was used as an analysis tool. Using the comparative method, the primary broth and mixed broth demonstrated good performance in terms of low infection rates using the pH variation method, as these are the main points. Furthermore, the critical points of infection in the manufacture of sugar and alcohol were mapped, and a cause analysis was carried out to assess the infection in the protection sector using the Ishikawa Diagram. Therefore, considering that this study was a pilot within this manufacturing unit, I intend to continue with the analysis and evaluation of the methods with the objective of continuous improvement of the process, as well as training the employees involved, creating action plans based on the PDCA cycle, creating checklists cleaning and verification sheets to reduce infection contamination within the unit, thus contributing to the quality and efficiency of sugar and alcohol production.