Extraction and purification of pigment produced by the fungus Talaromyces complex minioluteus

• Grant number: 16/18211-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: September 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Álvaro de Baptista Neto
• Grantee: Murilo Lucas Pereira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pigments are substances has been used since the dawn of humanity. Currently, they have great industrial applicability through the branches food, pharmaceutical, textile and other applications. The synthetic process production of the pigmentes is the process most usual, but due to the current risks to human health, the development of alternative routes to obtaining pigments, especially those involving natural resources are imperative and has shown great receptivity. Thus, this project aims to evaluate the pigment extraction process produced by a fungus isolated in the Savanas of São Carlos region for the structural identification of these pigment. More specifically, we will evaluate the conditions of the processes for pigment extraction using two liquid phases, establishing parameters for this operation in the processing unit as step of downstream process. Furthermore, in order to optimize the processes of identifying, testing shall be pigment purification techniques to obtain a purity required for its characterization using NMR techniques, mass spectrometry and infrared and, mainly, for commercial application.