Vinasse as renewable source of organic compounds with industrial interest

• Grant number: 16/14564-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Renata Colombo
• Grantee: Mateus Abner da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently used as fertilizer in the planting areas, vinasse is a liquid effluent from sugarcane mill considered highly harmful to the environment. This high polluting power is specifically due to the high content of organic matter present in vinasse. Several studies have been conducted in order to decompose these organic compounds and enhance the vinasse inorganic compounds as fertilizer. Among the organic compounds of vinasse, the organic acids and metabolites are present in significant concentrations. These compounds are widely used as raw materials or active ingredients in various industrial products. To meet this industrial demand, these compounds are produced by synthesis or extractions process that are difficult to control or that result in various types of pollution, deforestation and plant extinction. In this context, this project aims to perform the qualitative analysis of the terpenes metabolites present in the vinasse. The development of these processes aims to add vinasse as an auxiliary and sustainable source for obtaining these compounds that have wide industrial application. It is planned that the analytical methodologies developed in this project employ only substances that are not harmful to human health and the environment, generating waste same characteristics. Considering the vinasse production (10-18 liters for every liter of ethanol), the future extraction of these organic compounds from the vinasse would reduce part of conventional industrial processes that generate environmental impacts, in addition to expanding the concept and application of environmentally friendly production processes within academia and the chemical industry. (AU)