Ethanol fermentation of fungal extract by microbial consortium from sugarcane bagasse and vinasse

• Grant number: 16/11767-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal researcher: Reinaldo Gaspar Bastos
• Grantee: Gabriela Chaves da Silveira
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Solid-state cultivation (SSC) is characterized by growth on solid supports, in many cases agro industrial by-products, in limited water conditions. Due to these characteristics, filamentous fungi are micro-organisms most frequently used for obtaining the most diverse byproducts. The use of mixed cultures or, in this case, fungal consortium, presents as main advantage complementation in terms of hydrolytic enzymes, which leads to better utilization of the solid substrate. Citric acid and ethanol are important commercial bioproducts used in various sectors of the economy, which could be obtained by a sequential process SSC-fermentation from bagasse sugarcane impregnated with vinasse, minimizing costs from two generated by-products in the same industrial platform. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate the ethanol fermentation of fungal extract obtained via SSC consortium of Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei for the citric acid production from bagasse sugarcane impregnated with vinasse. Whereas previous work of our research group at the Center for Agricultural Sciences (CCA/UFSCar) indicate the feasibility from type SSC, this proposal broadens the study of spectrum for the use of microbial consortia and obtaining ethanol as a "proof of concept" of the use of residual glucose, leading to a better use of structural polysaccharides of sugarcane bagasse. Thus, our research hypothesis is the production of citric acid via SSC from sugarcane bagasse and vinasse with high yield and subsequent production of ethanol from fungal extract with less interference inhibitors. The academic study back up the assessment of an unconventional SSC from mixed cultures and adding two by-products generated in the same industrial platform. It is also worth noting that were not found in literature work regarding the use of wastewater as impregnating solution particles to SSC, nor the use of microbial extract obtained for driving other biotechnological processes, suggesting the innovative nature of the research. In addition, there is a regional aspect highlighted by the use complement different typical agro industrial by-products of the industrial sector of the Araras, region of the CCA/UFSCar.