Topochemistry analysis of sugar cane pretreated with alkaline sulfite

• Grant number: 12/22011-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 27, 2013
• End date: May 26, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Adriane Maria Ferreira Milagres
• Grantee: Mariana Bazzeggio da Fonseca
• Supervisor: Pedro Edson Fardim
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Åbo Akademi University, Finland
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/06749-0 - Topochemistry analysis of sugar cane pretreated with alkaline sulfite, BP.IC

Abstract

This project aims to study the physical and morphological changes of the fibers of cane sugar solution after treatment with sodium sulfite in alkaline medium. For this two canes with different chemical compositions were cut into stubs of defined size. Each fraction cane was pretreated with a solution of sodium hydroxide (5%) and sodium sulfite (10%). Subsequently, the fractions were autoclaved at 121 oC for varying times. We determined the distribution of lignin before and after treatment by microspectrophotometry and changes in the UV absorption of water and the sulfonic groups in the fiber. To complement the studies of lignin topochemical regions of sugarcane we intend to perform an internship at Abo Academy in Finland, under the supervision of Dr. Peter Fardim who is a member of the Thematic Project 2008/56256-5, to which this project is linked. The overseas training aimed at learning the technique of FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) and testing of cane regions to complement its characterization. Essentially, the goal is to obtain information about the surface of the pretreated samples to better understand the phenomena that restrict early enzymatic hydrolysis. (AU)