Perspectives for using sweet potatoes as raw material for bioethanol production in Brazil

Abstract The production of biofuels has stood out on the international scene due to its environmentally friendly attributes and potential for promoting rural development in developing countries. In Brazil, the federal program RenovaBio, corresponding to the National Biofuels Policy, aims to provide an important contribution to fulfilling the commitments determined by Brazil under the Paris Agreement, promoting the adequate expansion of biofuels in the energy matrix, with emphasis on a regular supply and ensure predictability for the fuel market, inducing gains in energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the production, commercialization, and use of biofuels. The possibility of expanding raw material sources for bioethanol production benefits Brazilian competitiveness. At the same time, given the vast varieties of raw materials available in this country, it is a challenge to discover which species would be most suitable for this chain. The Ipomoea batatas species (sweet potato) can contribute to the diversification of the energy matrix in Brazil, Latin American countries and around the world. Sweet potatoes have attracted scientific interest due to their high productivity rates, adaptability to diverse soil types, and tolerance to elevated temperatures, facilitating cultivation in flat and sloping terrains. In this sense, this work analyzes the opportunity to produce I. batatas bioethanol as a potential source to contribute to future energy supplies, especially in Brazil. Aspects such as economics, botanical description, extraction, and compositions, in addition to the production of bioethanol using sweet potatoes as raw material, are covered comprehensively throughout the manuscript.