Development of technology platform for incorporation of sugarcane straw in a biorefinery: xylitol and energy production

• Grant number: 13/27142-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Maria das Graças de Almeida Felipe
• Grantee: Maria das Graças de Almeida Felipe
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Lorena
• Associated researchers: Débora Danielle Virginio da Silva ; Eliana Vieira Canettieri ; João Andrade de Carvalho Junior ; Kelly Johana Dussán Medina ; Turibio Gomes Soares Neto

Abstract

This project aims to develop a technology platform for incorporation of sugarcane straw (tops, green and dry leaves) as feedstock in a biorefinery, using as study models the biotechnological production of xylitol from hemicellulose fraction and energy production from combustion of cellulignin. Sugarcane straw becomes a renewable, abundant and available lignocellulosic material from mechanized harvesting implementation, as function of the imminent need for sustainable processes. Besides its agronomic benefits, this biomass can be used in various industrial segments. In this context, the activities proposed include the use of hemicellulosic fraction by biotechnological route and cellulignin by thermochemical route. In this regard, activities related to the physicochemical characterization of sugarcane straw are planned, followed by biomass acid hydrolysis to obtain hemicellulosic hydrolysate rich in sugars and cellulignin. In the case of the hydrolyzate, after its chemical characterization, it will be used in formulation of the fermentation medium for xylitol production. In these experiments the yeast Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 will be employed, whose potential in xylose-to-xylitol bioconversion is already recognized. Regarding to cellulignin, the proposed steps involve its physico-chemical characterization, kinetic study of its thermal decomposition, combustion and factor of gases emission during combustion, compared to biomass in natura, which will be submitted to the same processes. Thus, with the development of this project is expected to achieve scientific basis for proposing alternatives incorporation of sugarcane straw in a biorefinery. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

CANETTIERI, ELIANA VIEIRA; DA SILVA, VINICIUS PEREIRA; SOARES NETO, TURIBIO GOMES; HERNANDEZ-PEREZ, ANDRES FELIPE; VIRGINIO DA SILVA, DEBORA DANIELLE; DUSSAN, KELLY JOHANA; ALMEIDA FELIPE, MARIA DAS GRACAS; DE CARVALHO, JR., JOAO ANDRADE. Physicochemical and thermal characteristics of sugarcane straw and its cellulignin. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, v. 40, n. 9, SEP 2018. (13/27142-0, 13/04441-1)

HERNANDEZ-PEREZ, A. F.; COSTA, I. A. L.; SILVA, D. D. V.; DUSSAN, K. J.; VILLELA, T. R.; CANETTIERI, E. V.; CARVALHO, JR., J. A.; SOARES NETO, T. G.; FELIPE, M. G. A.. Biochemical conversion of sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolyzate supplemented with co-substrates for xylitol production. Bioresource Technology, v. 200, p. 1085-1088, JAN 2016. (13/27142-0)

HERNANDEZ-PEREZ, ANDRES FELIPE; DE ARRUDA, PRISCILA VAZ; DE ALMEIDA FELIPE, MARIA DAS GRACAS. Sugarcane straw as a feedstock for xylitol production by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 47, n. 2, p. 489-496, APR-JUN 2016. (13/27142-0)