From orange waste to chemicals: contributions of an integrated biorefinary approach towards sustainable development in Brazil

• Grant number: 14/50827-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2015
• End date: June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Agreement: CONFAP ; Newton Fund, with FAPESP as a partner institution in Brazil ; EPSRC, UKRI
• Principal Investigator: João Batista Fernandes
• Grantee: João Batista Fernandes
• Principal researcher abroad: James H. Clark
• Institution abroad: University of York , England
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Carlos

Abstract

There is a pressing need for renewable and optimal uses of resources towards sustainable primary production and processing systems worldwide. In this context, the biorefinery integrates facilities for the conversion of biomass into multiple value-added products, to create flexible, zero waste networks. Using a variety of low value local feedstocks and also, contributing significantly to a bioeconomy. The main objective of this collaborative project is to strengthen the research network between the Green Chemistry Centre of Excelence (GCCE, the University of York, UK) and the Natural Products Research Group (NPRG, Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil) around Brazilian citrus chain valorisation based on the biorefinery and green chemistry concepts. A techno-economic and environmental assessment of the whole Brazilian citrus chain will be performed using methods developed by the SEI green-economy group (e.g. Life Cycle Assessment, LCA), encompassing food, energy, water, environmental and social impacts. According to previous data obtained by both groups, there is a wide spectrum of extractable compounds from orange waste with huge possible marketable applications (flavonoids, pectin, cellulose, d-Limonene, a-terpineol, waxes, alkanes, sugars, among others that can be used as additives of personal care products, flavour and fragrances, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, bio-solvents, biopolymers and active ingredients for insect repellents), as well as a number of green methods and techniques which can be employed in lab- and large-scale processes. The integrated (biorefinary approach applied to citrus waste needs to be further explored and advanced, considering the Brazilian economic, scientific, social and environmental characteristics. In this project, the events (workshops, conferences, courses, lectures and scientific meetings) and short-research stays planned are of ultimate importance to build long-term partneship between the GCCE and NPRG groups, which are considered as references in their areas of expertise ali over the world (e.g., green technologies and waste valorization in the UK as well as the development of alternatives to promote sustainable agriculture in Brazil) and the creation of links between them will impact markedly the present and future actions and research proposals on orange waste exploitation, contributing to sustainable development in Brazil. This innovative initiative will also permit the creation of a new Centre of Excellence in Green Chemistry and Sustainability based in São Carlos (SP), a full member of the Global Network of Green Chemistry Centres (G2C2), in order to promote and deepen the dialogue between the academia, government and industry sectors, helping to constitute a belter equipped community to develop excellent research outcomes and related activities around strategic topics in Brazil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(11)

(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)

ZUIN, VANIA G.; SEGATTO, MATEUS L.; RAMIN, LUIZE Z.. Plants as resources for organic molecules: Facing the green and sustainable future today. CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY, v. 9, n. SI, p. 1-7, FEB 2018. (13/12052-5, 14/50827-1)

ZUIN, VANIA G.; RAMIN, LUIZE Z.. Green and Sustainable Separation of Natural Products from Agro-Industrial Waste: Challenges, Potentialities, and Perspectives on Emerging Approaches. TOPICS IN CURRENT CHEMISTRY, v. 376, n. 1, FEB 2018. (14/50827-1, 13/12052-5)

ZUIN, VANIA G.; DE SOUZA, RODRIGO O. M. A.. Green and Sustainable Chemistry in South America: What have been done and seen there?. CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY, v. 26, p. 3-pg., 2020-12-01. (14/50827-1, 17/25015-1)

ZUIN, VANIA G.; SEGATTO, MATEUS L.; RAMIN, LUIZE Z.. Plants as resources for organic molecules: Facing the green and sustainable future today. CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY, v. 9, p. 7-pg., 2018-02-01. (14/50827-1, 13/12052-5)

BELLETE, BARBARA S.; RAMIN, LUIZE Z.; PORTO, DEYVID; RIBEIRO, ALANY I.; FORIM, MOACIR R.; ZUIN, VANIA G.; FERNANDES, JOAO B.; SILVA, MARIA FATIMA G. F.. An Environmentally Friendly Procedure to Obtain Flavonoids from Brazilian Citrus Waste. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 29, n. 5, p. 1123-1129, MAY 2018. (13/12052-5, 14/50827-1, 08/57859-5)

MILESCU, ROXANA ALINA; SEGATTO, MATEUS LODI; STAHL, AYLON; MCELROY, CON ROBERT; FARMER, THOMAS JAMES; CLARK, JAMES HANLEY; ZUIN, VANIA GOMES. Sustainable Single-Stage Solid-Liquid Extraction of Hesperidin and Rutin from Agro-Products Using Cyrene. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, v. 8, n. 49, p. 18245-18257, DEC 14 2020. (17/25015-1, 14/50827-1)

ZUIN, VANIA G.; SEGATTO, MATEUS L.; ZANOTTI, KARINE. Towards a green and sustainable fruit waste valorisation model in Brazil: optimisation of homogenizer-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from mango waste using a response surface methodology. Pure and Applied Chemistry, v. 92, n. 4, p. 617-629, APR 2020. (18/11409-0, 19/08389-0, 17/25015-1, 14/50827-1)

EVELINE S. COSTA; BRUNO PERLATTI; EVERTON M. DA SILVA; ANDREIA P. MATOS; MARIA FÁTIMA G. F. DA SILVA; JOÃO B. FERNANDES; VÂNIA G. ZUIN; CAIO M. P. DA SILVA; MOACIR R. FORIM. Use of Lignins from Sugarcane Bagasse for Assembling Microparticles Loaded with Azadirachta indica Extracts for Use as Neem-Based Organic Insecticides. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 28, n. 1, p. 126-135, 2017-01-00. (11/00970-4, 11/11860-5, 14/50827-1)

ZUIN, VANIA G.. Circularity in green chemical products, processes and services: Innovative routes based on integrated eco-design and solution systems. CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY, v. 2, p. 40-44, OCT 2016. (13/12052-5, 14/50827-1)

ZUIN, VANIA G.; RAMIN, LUIZE Z.; SEGATTO, MATEUS L.; STAHL, AYLON M.; ZANOTTI, KARINE; FORIM, MOACIR R.; DA SILVA, MARIA FATIMA DAS GRACAS F.; FERNANDES, JOAO BATISTA. To separate or not to separate: what is necessary and enough for a green and sustainable extraction of bioactive compounds from Brazilian citrus waste. Pure and Applied Chemistry, v. 93, n. 1, p. 13-27, JAN 2021. (12/25299-6, 19/08389-0, 14/50827-1, 18/11409-0, 17/25015-1)

ZUIN, VANIA G.; STAHL, AYLON M.; ZANOTTI, KARINE; SEGATTO, MATEUS L.. Green and sustainable chemistry in Latin America: Which type of research is going on? And for what?. CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY, v. 25, p. 8-pg., 2020-10-01. (14/50827-1, 18/11409-0, 17/25015-1, 19/08389-0)