Evaluation of the potential for active principles in crop fibers

• Grant number: 08/05289-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2008
• End date: September 30, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Alcides Lopes Leao
• Grantee: Alcides Lopes Leao
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present research project aims evaluate the optimization utilizing crop fibers residues in the decortication process or even in the whole plant. The utilized methods will be directed toward the extracction, identification, isolation, quantitative analysis and purification of active principles. WIth these results, it will be possible develop a methodology that result in a better income in the crop fiber producing producing chain, besides the fiber itself. The present project is part of a great effort of the LABORATORY toward the viability of the crop plants with a higher income not only in he fibers commercialization, which represents a small amount in relation to the total weight of the plant (about 4-6%), but in function of the active principles, eventually valuable that will allow the final price of the fibers be mor competitive in relation to the man-made competitors (AU)