Two-liquid phase system applied to extractive enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass

• Grant number: 16/04749-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Aline Carvalho da Costa
• Grantee: Bianca Consorti Bussamra
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/21951-1 - Aqueous two-phase systems development to separate sugar and enzymes., BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Sugars derived from lignocellulosic materials are the main raw material in bio-based process development for renewable fuels and chemicals. Although high biomass conversion yields can be achieved by enzymatic hydrolysis, this process presents some drawbacks that hinder its implementation on a commercial scale. High solid content in the hydrolysis (15-20% water-insoluble solids - WIS) is desired, since it will result in higher total reducing sugar concentration in hydrolysates and reduce of water usage. However, enzymes are affected by reaction products (cellobiose and glucose) and mass transfer hindrances, which leads to inefficient adsorption. In this project, it is proposed to study and develop a new process for the sugarcane bagasse hydrolysis using a two-liquid phase system. This system will be applied as a strategy of in situ extraction, aiming to remove the reaction products and minimize enzyme inhibition. Then, this new approach is based on sugars extraction from the reactional saccharification phase through aqueous two-phase partition technique, which concept is called extractive hydrolysis, maintaining the enzymatic complex in its maximum activity rate. Various constituents of the liquid-liquid system will be studied and tested in highthroughput experiments. The constituent selection will be based on partition coefficients of the components (Kp e Ke), enzymatic stability, among others. The enzymatic complex used will be the Celluclast 1.5 L. The biomass will be the hydrothermal pre-treated bagasse followed by organossolv delignification. Two process models are being suggested: 1) hydrolysis in one single step (all the enzymes - Celluclast - present in the reactional system) followed by ATPS formation and sugar enrichment in the extractive phase, 2) two-step hydrolysis (enzymatic complex Celluclast in the first step and beta-glucosidase enriched-fraction in the second step) and formation of the ATPS in the second step only. Here, we expect to define an extractive enzymatic hydrolysis process using the ATPS technique and test this new process concept for high solid content reactions (10% < X < 25%).

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BUSSAMRA, Bianca Consorti. Sistemas aquosos bifásicos aplicados à hidrólise enzimática do bagaço de cana: metodologia de triagem, modelagem termodinâmica e design do processo. 2021. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Química Campinas, SP.