Waste2energy: integration of supercritical technologies and anaerobic digestion th...
| Grant number: | 18/23983-3 |
| Support type: | Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants |
| Duration: | March 01, 2019 - February 28, 2021 |
| Field of knowledge: | Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries |
| Principal Investigator: | Adriano Pinto Mariano |
| Grantee: | Adriano Pinto Mariano |
| Home Institution: | Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil |
| Assoc. researchers: | Rubens Maciel Filho ; Thaddeus Chukwuemeka Ezeji |
| Associated grant(s): | 19/23416-4 - Production of microalgae-based tires: techno-economic-environmental assessment of conversion of the microalga Botryococcus braunii into 1,3-butadiene, AP.R SPRINT |
Abstract
Changes in the petrochemical industry have resulted in decreasing production of four-carbon olefins and, consequently, it has affected the supply of 1,3-butadiene to the rubber tires industry. For this reason, chemical companies have been searching for renewable sources of butadiene precursors, thereby creating a potential market for sugarcane companies. However, it is not obvious which technological route can give sugarcane and chemical companies the best win-win solution. The route based on the conversion of first-generation ethanol (1G) to butadiene can accelerate the penetration of sugarcane in the tires value chain because this option does not require investments from sugarcane companies. On the other hand, for sugarcane companies planning to produce second-generation ethanol (2G) from sugarcane bagasse, the conversion of hemicelluloses from the bagasse into n-butanol or 2,3-butanediol (other possible routes) may be more interesting. These bagasse-based routes can boost the economic feasibility of 2G ethanol biofuel while offering chemical companies better buying price and yields. Nevertheless, fermentative conversion of the hemicellulose hydrolysate faces technical challenges. The hydrolysate is dilute (~20 g/L xylose) and biomass pretreatment-derived microbial inhibitors prevent the efficient conversion of xylose. The present work plan aims at increasing the conversion efficiency of sugarcane hemicellulose hydrolysate (non-detoxified) into n-butanol and 2,3-butanediol. To achieve this aim, we will develop a fermentation strategy that features three aspects: mixing with molasses, fed-batch operation, and cell immobilization using the sugarcane bagasse as cell carrier. Moreover, we will assess the techno-economic and environmental (carbon footprint) potential of producing 1,3-butadiene from butanol, butanediol, and 1G ethanol. Therefore, with the proposed research we expect to find technological solutions that accelerate the penetration of sugarcane in the tires value chain in a way that is economic and environmentally attractive for sugarcane and chemical companies. (AU)