Nanocellulose production from marine macroalgae of Alagoas coast through the enzymatic route: obtention, characterization and economic feasibility

• Grant number: 19/25261-8
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2021 - January 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Cooperation agreement: CONFAP - National Council of State Research Support Foundations
• Principal researcher: Cristiane Sanchez Farinas
• Grantee: Cristiane Sanchez Farinas
• Home Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Antonio José Gonçalves da Cruz ; Carlos Eduardo de Farias Silva ; Luiz Henrique Capparelli Mattoso ; Rosineide Gomes da Silva Cruz

Abstract

Studies aiming a low carbon economy, with the premise of sustainable exploitation of renewable resources to offer concrete solutions to the great challenges of social, economic and environmental areas are increasingly needed for the development and innovation of industrial processes in the so-called bioeconomy. Considering that cellulose is the most abundant carbohydrate in nature, formed by crystalline domains and other amorphous domains, and obtained mainly from lignocellulosic raw materials, its application as feedstock for new biomaterials is a promising option for the substitution of non-renewable sources Among these biomaterials, nanocellulose has shown a remarkable potential for various types of applications, such as additives for composites, polymer and paper reinforcement, emulsions and others. In the last decades, many different raw materials have been used to obtain nanocellulose, such as wood, agroindustrial residues, and more recently, seaweed.Thus, it is of great interest to investigate the use of potential macroalgae obtained from the coast of the State of Alagoas to produce nanocellulose using enzymatic hydrolysis combined with physical treatments. The nanocellulose obtained will be compared with two products: that obtained from macroalgae by the conventional acid method and the nanocellulose obtained from a model cellulosic raw material such as eucalyptus pulp. In addition, an economic feasibility study of macroalgae nanocellulose production will be performed using mathematical modeling of the process including numerical simulation, life cycle analysis and economic potential of the obtained nanocelulose. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FREITAS, V, JULIANA; BILATTO, STANLEY; SQUINCA, PAULA; PINTO, ARIANE S. S.; BRONDI, MARIANA G.; BONDANCIA, THALITA J.; BATISTA, GUSTAVO; KLAIC, RODRIGO; FARINAS, CRISTIANE S. Sugarcane biorefineries: potential opportunities towards shifting from wastes to products. INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS, v. 172, NOV 15 2021. Web of Science Citations: 1.