PRODUCTION OF NATURAL SHORT CHAIN ORGANIC ACIDS (BUTYRIC ACID) THROUGH THE ACIDOGENIC FERMENTATION OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL WASTE (SUGAR AND ALCOHOL INDUSTRY)

• Grant number: 23/12288-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Felipe Eng Sánchez
• Grantee: Felipe Eng Sánchez
• Company: UP Bioprodutos Ltda
• CNAE: Atividades profissionais, científicas e técnicas não especificadas anteriormente
• City: Campinas
• Pesquisadores principais: Igor Ferreira Fioravante ; Luiz Carlos Andreatto Junior
• Associated researchers: Reinaldo Gaspar Bastos
• Associated research grant: 18/08273-0 - Development of fatty acid process production through acidogenic fermentation from vinasse for the synthesis of bioproducts, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/20048-2 - PRODUCTION OF NATURAL SHORT CHAIN ORGANIC ACIDS (BUTYRIC ACID) THROUGH THE ACIDOGENIC FERMENTATION OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL WASTE (SUGAR AND ALCOHOL INDUSTRY), BP.TT; 24/17546-0 - PRODUCTION OF NATURAL SHORT CHAIN ORGANIC ACIDS (BUTYRIC ACID) THROUGH THE ACIDOGENIC FERMENTATION OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL WASTE (SUGAR AND ALCOHOL INDUSTRY)., BP.TT; 24/07567-0 - Production of short-chain natural organic acids (butyric acid) through acidogenic fermentation of agroindustrial effluents (sugar and alcohol industry), BP.PIPE

Abstract

The project consists of the production of volatile organic acids (VOAs), specifically butyric acid (Hbu), using waste from the sugar industry as raw material through an acidogenic fermentation process and taking into account the concepts of circular economy and upcycling. In previous research in Phase 1 using vinasse from ethanol production (EtOH) and effluents from sugar production such as borra and sugarcane juice itself, at the end of 2022 and in 2023, it proved to be technically possible to achieve good results, indicating be a very promising, economically viable and profitable technology. The use of sludge from the Planeta Verde Plant (UPV) favored the production of Hbu due to the high content of carbohydrates easily assimilated by microorganisms. This project intends to continue these researches, at first consolidating the acidogenic fermentation stage using the liquid effluents from this plant, testing some conditions and parameters on a bench scale in order to arrive at a stable process, with high concentration, yields, productivity and selectivity of Hbu. On this bench scale, it is also intended to characterize the populations of microorganisms involved in acidogenic fermentation for the production of Hbu. In a second moment, it is intended to test the improved technology on a pilot scale (reactor with a total volume of 1 m3) inside the Plant. At the same time, it is intended to consolidate, test and improve the process of recovery and purification of the produced Hbu. Finally, at the end of this project, it is intended to be able to improve the technology in the laboratory, test it on a pilot scale and manage to cross the downstream process until we reach the first samples that will be provided to potential customers to be tested. It is expected to obtain feedback on the quality of our product and evaluate the technical-economic potential of the project for an expansion to an industrial scale and the design of the technology's basic engineering. In this way, it is intended to bring to the market a sustainable and cheaper alternative to natural Hbu, a molecule that is basically imported today, with a high cost in addition to all the complications related to the import process. This will all be possible with relatively low resources thanks to very well built partnerships with universities and companies that will help and invest in the development of technology together with FAPESP, in addition to some investors very interested in this innovative process. (AU)