| Grant number: | 24/15778-1 |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| Start date: | December 01, 2025 |
| End date: | November 30, 2028 |
| Field of knowledge: | Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering |
| Principal Investigator: | Christianne Elisabete da Costa Rodrigues |
| Grantee: | Christianne Elisabete da Costa Rodrigues |
| Host Institution: | Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil |
| City of the host institution: | Pirassununga |
| Associated researchers: | Fábio Rodolfo Miguel Batista ; Oscar Zalla Sampaio Neto ; Rodrigo Corrêa Basso ; Sérgio Antonio Mendes Vilas Boas |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 25/27097-1 - Synthesis and characterization of natural hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HNADES) for the extraction of lipids, bioactive compounds, and proteins, BP.TT |
Abstract
Actions related to the valorization of non-timber forest products can boost multiple and sustainable uses, strengthening the extraction and processing of these materials, with socio-economic impacts on the local population and maintaining forest integrity. The processing of oilseeds from the Amazon biome, such as pracaxi, babassu, and Brazil nuts, among others, produces press cakes as by-products of filtered oil production. Unlike the oils, which are primarily used by the cosmetics industry, the press cakes are mainly destined for animal feed. In this context, actions aimed at valuing these materials are justified, such as their fractionation and the production of inputs for human consumption. Oilseed press cakes can contain significant levels of residual oil not removed during the mechanical extraction process, as well as proteins, bioactive compounds, and fibers. In addition to the possibility of extracting the residual oil/fat, using defatted solids to valorize the protein fraction can expand the portfolio with products such as protein concentrates and isolates, which have wide applications in the food industry. Based on the above, this research project aims to propose strategies for extracting lipids, bioactive compounds, and proteins from coproducts from the Amazon Biome. For the extraction of residual oil and bioactive compounds present in press cakes, it is proposed to use established green solvents, such as ethanol, and emerging ones, such as hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents, employing thermodynamic tools for the pre-selection of precursors (Hansen Solubility Theory and COSMO methodology). Non-conventional technologies, such as ultrasound, will be evaluated for the extraction and improvement of the functional properties of proteins, as well as membranes and alcoholic precipitation for the purification step. In addition to technological advances, this project will generate critical sustainability indicators to assess the socio-environmental impact of the processes developed, such as resource efficiency, socio-economic viability, and adherence to public policies. (AU)
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