Consolidation of the biorefinery concept applied to the biological treatment of wastewater and solid wastes

• Grant number: 22/10615-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Zaiat
• Grantee: Marcelo Zaiat
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Edson Luiz Silva ; Elisabete Moreira Assaf ; José Alberto Domingues Rodrigues ; Jose Mansur Assaf ; Márcia Helena Rissato Zamariolli Damianovic ; Maria Bernadete Amâncio Varesche ; Valeria Maia Merzel
• Associated researchers: Aldo Roberto Ometto ; Alvaro José dos Santos Neto ; Eugenio Foresti ; Flávia Mendes de Almeida Collaço ; Giovana Tommaso ; Giovanna Lovato ; Guilherme Henrique Duarte de Oliveira ; Janaina Fernandes Gomes ; Juliano José Corbi ; Lucas Tadeu Fuess ; Luiz Henrique Vieira ; Márcia Helena Rissato Zamariolli Damianovic ; Roberta Albanez Toreta ; Rogers Ribeiro ; Suzana Maria Ratusznei ; Tiago Palladino Delforno ; Wu Hong Kwong
• Associated research grant(s): 24/20800-6 - Multi-user equipment granted by the project number 2022/10615-1: Autosorb 6200, AP.EMU; 24/15158-3 - Selection of Biological Indicators for Monitoring the Environmental Impacts of Biorefineries., AV.BR
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/09865-9 - Life Cycle Assessment of the Production of Volatile Fatty Acids of Economic Interest from Urban Bioresidues in the Context of Biorefineries, BP.DR; 24/10992-5 - Integrating anaerobic digestion of sugarcane vinasse vinasse with microalgal cultivation, BP.DR; 23/10733-7 - Two-Stage Anaerobic Digestion of Sugarcane Vinasse: Alternatives Alkalinizing Strategies and the Role of the Fermentative-Sulfidogenic Process, BP.DR; + associated scholarships 25/04269-1 - Meta-omic characterization of micropollutant biodegradation in combined reactors (anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic) applied to the sewage treatment, BP.PD; 25/02239-8 - METHANE PRODUCTION IN A MESOPHILIC ANSBBR FOR GLYCERIN TREATMENT: OPERATIONAL LIMIT, KINETIC MODELING, SCALE-UP, AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, BP.IC; 25/02805-3 - Vinasse Treatment by Anaerobic Digestion: The Impact of Dilution with Sewage Contaminated by Micropollutants., BP.IC; 24/17289-8 - Evaluation of the degradation kinetics of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) by the Desmodesmus sp. microalgae-bacteria consortium and Enterobacter cloacae, BP.MS; 23/17827-7 - Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Methanogenesis in the Valorization of Solid Waste from Orange Juice Production, BP.MS; 24/13135-6 - Photodynamic processes associated with anaerobic digestion of swine wastewater: removal of sulfamethazine and resistant bacteria, BP.PD; 24/21994-9 - Evaluation of the effect of hydraulic retention time on the biodegradation of organic micropollutants in a structured fixed-bed aerobic reactor treating domestic sewage, BP.IC; 24/17099-4 - optimization of alkalinization and methane production from the anaerobic co-digestion of sugarcane vinasse and swine waste in batch reactors, BP.IC; 24/06808-4 - Life cycle assessment of biomethane production by anaerobic digestion of soybean molasses: analysis of environmental impacts and comparison with current scenario, BP.IC; 24/04127-0 - IMPACTS OF UNPLANNED INTERRUPTIONS ON THE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF SUGARCANE VINASSE IN TWO-PHASE AND SINGLE-PHASE SYSTEMS, BP.MS; 24/04540-4 - Catalytic conversion of biogas into chemical compounds, BP.DD; 24/00418-0 - FEASIBILITY OF ADOPTING ALTERNATIVE SUBSTRATES TO VINEYARD, SUCH AS MOLASSES AND GLYCEROL, IN BIODIGESTION WITH AIM FOR THE GENERATION OF BIOGAS IN THE SUGARCANE BETWEEN-HARVEST PERIOD, BP.IC; 23/05911-3 - SOY MOLASSES AS A SUBSTRATE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF POLYHYDROXYALKANOATES (PHA) BY MIXED MICROBIAL CULTURES: Effects of the Applied Organic Load, BP.MS; 24/01433-2 - Application of multifunctional zeolitic catalysts for direct conversion of furfural into - valerolactone, BP.DD; 20/15988-5 - Biorefinery applied to the management of coffee processing residues co-digested in industrial wastes for the generation of biogas, BP.PD; 21/01657-0 - Modelling, simulation and optimization of anaerobic acidogenic plug flow reactors, BP.PD; 20/09988-2 - Anaerobic digestion of sugarcane vinasse in anaerobic membrane bioreactor, BP.PD; 19/22532-0 - Anaerobic biotransformation of emerging organic micropollutants in a two-phase (acidogenic-methanogenic) treatment system treating domestic wastewater, BP.PD; 18/21901-0 - Environmental impact assessment of vinasse biodigested in anaerobic bioreactor using ecotoxicology assays, BP.PD; 18/26470-7 - Influence of sugarcane bagasse saccharification by laccase for fermentative production of biofuels, BP.PD - associated scholarships

Abstract

The biorefinery concept has been applied to wastewater and solid waste treatment systems by various research groups around the world. Many advances have been achieved mainly with the application of anaerobic biotechnology, with increasing yields and productivity in the production of organic acids, solvents, bioplastics, hydrogen, and methane, among other products of interest. The growing understanding of the basic concepts associated with the global process has led to diversified proposals for the valuation of organic waste and wastewater. The groups associated for the development of this project have been working together for over a decade, always focusing on the fundamentals of the processes. It is intended, with this proposal, to consolidate this accumulated knowledge to test the hypothesis that it is possible to apply and consolidate the concept of biorefinery for the processing of wastewater and solid waste through the application of anaerobic technology, combined with physical-chemical and catalytic processes. The general objective of this Thematic Project is to deepen knowledge on the application of anaerobic technology as the main unit for the processing of wastewater and solid waste, by-products of industrial processes, for consolidation of the biorefinery concept. It is expected that the traditional vision of sanitation will be overcome, so that the vision of recovery of energy and materials for the environmental adequacy of the wastewater and solid waste is definitively consolidated. (AU)

Scientific publications

(15)

(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)

VIEIRA, LUIZ H.; ROSSI, MARCO A.; RASTEIRO, LETICIA F.; ASSAF, JOSE M.; ASSAF, ELISABETE M.. CO₂ Hydrogenation to Methanol over Mesoporous SiO₂-Coated Cu-Based Catalysts. ACS NANOSCIENCE AU, v. 4, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2024-07-18. (22/06419-2, 22/10615-1, 20/15230-5)

ALBANEZ, ROBERTA; PAULINETTI, ANA PAULA; AUGUSTO, ISABELA MEHI GASPARI; LOVATO, GIOVANNA; RODRIGUES, JOSE ALBERTO DOMINGUES; RATUSZNEI, SUZANA MARIA. Integrated production of bacterial cellulose and biogas from agro-industrial wastewater: technical feasibility of implementing a biorefinery concept. Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2024-05-15. (22/01425-4, 21/13810-7, 22/10615-1, 22/05522-4)

RIBEIRO, ALEXANDRE RODRIGUES; DEVENS, KAUANNA UYARA; CAMARGO, FRANCIELE PEREIRA; SAKAMOTO, ISABEL KIMIKO; VARESCHE, MARIA BERNADETE AMANCIO; SILVA, EDSON LUIZ. Synergizing sugarcane waste valorization: Optimization of two-stage anaerobic co-digestion for enhanced methane recovery and organic matter removal. INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS, v. 221, p. 13-pg., 2024-08-02. (15/06246-7, 22/10615-1)

PAULINETTI, ANA PAULA; GUERIERI, FERNANDA FURTUNATO; AUGUSTO, ISABELA MEHI GASPARI; LAZARO, CAROLINA ZAMPOL; ALBANEZ, ROBERTA; LOVATO, GIOVANNA; RATUSZNEI, SUZANA MARIA; RODRIGUESA, JOSE ALBERTO DOMINGUES. Thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic digestion of soybean molasses: A performance vs. stability trade-off. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 370, p. 14-pg., 2024-10-03. (22/01425-4, 22/05522-4, 22/10615-1, 21/13810-7, 21/13797-0)

RIBEIRO, ALEXANDRE RODRIGUES; DEVENS, KAUANNA UYARA; CAMARGO, FRANCIELE PEREIRA; SAKAMOTO, ISABEL KIMIKO; VARESCHE, MARIA BERNADETE AMANCIO; SILVA, EDSON LUIZ. Insights of energy potential in thermophilic sugarcane vinasse and molasses treatment: does two-stage codigestion enhance operational performance?. BIODEGRADATION, v. 36, n. 1, p. 20-pg., 2025-02-01. (22/10615-1)

VIEIRA, LUIZ H.; DA SILVA, ALISSON H. M.; SANTANA, CASSIA S.; ASSAF, ELISABETE M.; ASSAF, JOSE M.; GOMES, JANAINA F.. Recent Understanding of Water-Assisted CO₂ Hydrogenation to Alcohols. CHEMCATCHEM, v. 16, n. 11, p. 9-pg., 2024-03-08. (22/10615-1, 20/15230-5, 23/05285-5, 17/08420-0, 22/06419-2)

DEVENS, KAUANNA UYARA; RIBEIRO, ALEXANDRE RODRIGUES; CAMARGO, FRANCIELE PEREIRA; SAKAMOTO, ISABEL KIMIKO; VARESCHE, MARIA BERNADETE AMANCIO; SILVA, EDSON LUIZ. Two-stage versus single-stage anaerobic co-digestion on methane synthesis: Energy prospects and microbial community. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, v. 196, p. 13-pg., 2025-02-14. (22/10615-1, 15/06246-7)

CARNEIRO, RODRIGO B.; TAKEDA, PAULA Y.; DIAS, MARIA E. S.; NOGUEIRA, ELIS W.; ZAIAT, MARCELO; SANTOS-NETO, ALVARO J.. Biosorption assessment of emerging contaminants onto acidogenic and methanogenic biofilm reactors: Influence of lipophilic and electrostatic interactions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, v. 13, n. 2, p. 13-pg., 2025-04-01. (19/22532-0, 23/10489-9, 17/02147-0, 22/10615-1)

SAPILLADO, GILDA; ZHANG, YUANHUI; SUMMERS, SABRINA; RIBEIRO, ROGERS; TOMMASO, GIOVANA. Energy recovery of residual yeast via hydrothermal liquefaction with multi-cycle reuse of the post-HTL wastewater and subsequent anaerobic digestion. RENEWABLE ENERGY, v. 236, p. 15-pg., 2024-09-25. (22/10615-1)

NINASIVINCHA, B. E. JORGE; COUTO, P. T.; DIAS, M. E.; HUACCHA, K.; TOMMASO, G.; RIBEIRO, R.. Anaerobic digestion model number 1 applied to the modeling of anaerobic digestion of residues generated in soluble coffee processing. Biochemical Engineering Journal, v. 209, p. 13-pg., 2024-06-15. (21/01657-0, 22/10615-1, 20/07737-2)

RIBEIRO, ALEXANDRE RODRIGUES; DEVENS, KAUANNA UYARA; CAMARGO, FRANCIELE PEREIRA; SAKAMOTO, ISABEL KIMIKO; VARESCHE, MARIA BERNADETE AMANCIO; SILVA, EDSON LUIZ. Harnessing the Energy Potential and Value-Added Products from the Treatment of Sugarcane Vinasse: Maximizing Methane Production Through Co-Digestion with Sugarcane Molasses and Enhanced Organic Loading. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, v. N/A, p. 25-pg., 2024-09-28. (22/10615-1)

AUGUSTO, ISABELA MEHI GASPARI; LAZARO, CAROLINA ZAMPOL; ALBANEZ, ROBERTA; RATUSZNEI, SUZANA MARIA; LOVATO, GIOVANNA; RODRIGUES, JOSE ALBERTO DOMINGUES. H2 production via dark fermentation of soybean molasses: Elucidating the role of homoacetogenesis and endogenous substrate microorganisms by kinetic and microbial analysis. ENERGY, v. 298, p. 18-pg., 2024-04-22. (22/01425-4, 21/13810-7, 22/10615-1)

DE PAULA, LUANA DO NASCIMENTO ROCHA; GOMES, JANAINA FERNANDES; ASSAF, JOSE MANSUR. Impact of the copper load on the performance of Cu/UiO-67 in CO₂ hydrogenation to ethanol at atmospheric pressure. CATALYSIS TODAY, v. 444, p. 7-pg., 2024-08-28. (17/08420-0, 22/10615-1, 20/15230-5, 18/23601-3)

CATUZO, G. L.; DE LIMA, Y. L.; PETROLINI, D. D.; ASSAF, E. M.. Influence of the La/Ce ratio on La-Ce oxides promoted by Sr in the methane oxidative coupling reaction. CATALYSIS TODAY, v. 444, p. 11-pg., 2024-08-26. (24/01433-2, 23/10582-9, 22/10615-1, 19/10980-9)

DEVENS, KAUANNA UYARA; RIBEIRO, ALEXANDRE RODRIGUES; CAMARGO, FRANCIELE PEREIRA; SAKAMOTO, ISABEL KIMIKO; VARESCHE, MARIA BERNADETE AMANCIO; SILVA, EDSON LUIZ. Feasibility of successive hydrogen and methane production: Effects of temperature and organic loads on energy potential and microbial dynamics. INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION, v. 196, p. 14-pg., 2025-01-01. (15/06246-7, 22/10615-1)