Molasses-to-Rum Conversion: An Industrial Framework for Diversification and Competitive Growth

Abstract

This study evaluates the technical and industrial feasibility of producing rum from sugarcane molasses in Honduras as a strategy for agroindustrial diversification and circular economy integration. Laboratory-scale fermentation, distillation, and accelerated aging were experimentally evaluated using molasses as the primary substrate. Fermentation achieved an ethanol yield of 77% of theoretical conversion, while batch distillation produced a heart fraction with 42% v/v ethanol. Accelerated aging was simulated using a controlled reflux system with selected wood chips, generating distinct sensory profiles in significantly reduced time. To assess industrial scalability, the process was modeled in Aspen Plus, integrating fermentation, multistage distillation, and energy balances. Simulation results indicate that an industrial plant processing 9,650 t·y−1 of molasses could produce 2.5 million liters of rum annually while meeting international quality standards for volatile compounds. Sensitivity analyses of distillation columns optimized reflux ratios and feed stages to maximize ethanol recovery and minimize impurities. The combined experimental and simulation results demonstrate that molasses valorization into rum is technically feasible, economically promising, and aligned with sustainable industrial development objectives in sugarcane-producing regions.