Enabling advanced biofuel production with chemically stabilized enzymes and ionic liquids

• Grant number: 24/13575-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Leticia Maria Zanphorlin
• Grantee: Leticia Maria Zanphorlin
• Principal researcher abroad: Alex Brogan
• Institution abroad: King's College London, England
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This proposal outlines a collaborative project between the groups of Dr Alex Brogan (King's College London) and Dr Leticia Zanphorlin (Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory) that seeks to develop an innovative new approach to the production of advanced biofuels. This work will leverage the expertise of both groups to overcome the key hurdles in the production of biofuels by improving biocatalyst stability, enhancing process intensity, and shifting to feedstocks that do not compete with agriculture. This will be achieved through a synergistic combination of enzyme bioengineering, chemical stabilization, and solvent engineering that will allow for a fully optimized biocatalytic reaction. This will result in a highly efficient process for the conversion of fatty acids (from food wastes) to alkenes as bioderived alternatives to oil-based fuels at high process yields. More broadly, this research will provide a case-study for a holistic strategy for broadening the use of enzymes as biocatalysts in a wide range of industrial settings. In addition, this proposal seeks to strengthen the existing ties between the two labs and will provide the resources to fully capitalise on exciting preliminary investigations, to the benefit of both groups, the two institutions, and the UK and Brazil more generally. (AU)