Chlorella sp cultivation on raceway reactors for further physio-chemical analysis of the biomass and bioethanol

• Grant number: 16/04523-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2017
• End date: January 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Helena Pelegrine Guimarães
• Grantee: Ingrid Lima Costa
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Taking into account the growing interest in the use of microalgae as a feedstock in the production of biodiesel, this research aims at obtaining bioethanol from biomass of microalgae Chlorella sp, after cultivation in a photo open bioreactor Raceway type, dimensions 12m (length) x 3.0 m (width) (Fapesp newly granted in accordance with the process 2014 / 03244-0). As biodiesel is produced through the oil content of the biomass, this paper will investigate the use of pie obtained from microalgae, to produce a culture medium with high glucose concentration, which is estimated to produce ethanol. The biomass obtained from microalgae, after going through a drying process proceeds to the reaction of saccharification and fermentation, with the pretreated pie and the final product analyzed in liquid chromatograph, for the concentrations of glucose, xylose and ethanol. In parallel, the rheological behavior of biomass will be discussed, depending on the configuration, number, size and distribution of the dispersed particles in it, in different culture times in order to estimate the energy demands of each stage, aiming to optimize for future construction a DC power tubular bioreactor for cell culture of this microalgae. The physicochemical characteristics and rheological behavior of the resulting biomass and bioethanol obtained will also be examined. The stages of oil extraction as well as the characterization of the same, will be performed by another student of scientific initiation, parallel design. (AU)