Cellulases from a thermophilic filamentous fungus: studies of production, characterization and saccharification of sugarcane bagasse

• Grant number: 12/15699-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Alonso Bocchini
• Grantee: Franco Zavarizi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/21002-9 - Application of cellulases from a thermophilic filamentous fungus in the saccharification of in natura and subjected to pretreatment with ferric nitrate sugarcane bagasse, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

The use of new technologies for obtaining products of industrial interest, involving the use of renewable and low cost raw materials, has been the subject of research in recent years due to the lower environmental impacts they cause and because they are mostly economically advantageous. Thus, studies on the use of lignocellulosic wastes in bioprocesses have emerged, particularly with regard to the cultivation of microorganisms producing enzymes of plant material degradation and to the obtainment of fermentable sugars by enzymatic hydrolysis. Cellulases stand out among these enzymes, since they have potential for various biotechnological applications, especially hydrolysis of lignocellulosic residues such as sugarcane bagasse to obtain glucose, aiming the production of second generation ethanol by fermenting microorganisms. Thus, the screening of microorganisms producers of these enzymes and studies of the enzymes are necessary not only to obtain biocatalysts which have suitable characteristics for industrial processes which are intended, but also for the better understanding and exploration of the microbial biodiversity. Within this context, this project involves the evaluation of the influence of different lignocellulosic substrates on cellulases production by a newly isolated thermophilic fungus (FAPESP Process 2011/12794-6), the study of the physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of the enzymes and the evaluation of their effectiveness in the saccharification of sugarcane bagasse (in natura and subjected to pretreatment with ferric nitrate). The pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification will be performed at the Universidad de Valladolid, Spain, under the guidance of Professor Silvia Bolado, at the Grupo de Pesquisa Tecnología de Processos Químicos y Bioquímicos do Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Tecnología del Medio Ambiente, if the candidate is contemplated with the BEPE scholarship, requested in parallel with this application. (AU)