Evaluation of the enzymatic hydrolysis (Aspergillus niger) of the sugarcane bagasse applied in the biological production of hydrogen using Clostridium butyricum as fermentative inoculum

• Grant number: 17/12333-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2017
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Maria Bernadete Amâncio Varesche
• Grantee: Rafaela Arantes Stancari
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/06246-7 - Biorefinery concept applied to biological wastewater treatment plants: environmental pollution control coupled with material and energy recovery, AP.TEM

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse consists of one of the by-products of the sugar-alcohol plant currently in the state of São Paulo, which adds a significant value at the end of its production line. The use of this lignocellulosic residue for the production of biofuels like hydrogen has been an alternative to reuse instead of its simple discard. Such residues have in their structural constitution great resistance, needing to undergo a pretreatment to allow the access of the hydrolytic enzymes during the fermentative activity for the biological production of hydrogen. Therefore, the objective of this study is to perform the biological pre-treatment of sugarcane bagasse by applying the cellulolytic complex produced by the Aspergillus niger fungus in order to favor the production of hydrogen. The methodology will consist of three steps: extraction of the enzymatic complex of A. niger via solid state fermentation using cellulose (Sigma®) as substrate; Pre-treatment of sugarcane bagasse with different concentrations of enzymes (120, 240 and 360 FPU / mL) and times (96, 120 and 144 h); and biological hydrogen production assay using enzymatically pretreated sugarcane bagasse and Clostridium butyricum as fermentative inoculum. (AU)