Biogas production integrated to the concept of lignocellulosic biomass: operational aspects and use of nanoparticles

• Grant number: 18/09893-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: May 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Bruna de Souza Moraes
• Grantee: Maria Paula Cardeal Volpi
• Host Institution: Núcleo Interdisciplinar de Planejamento Energético (NIPE). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/50612-8 - An integrated approach to explore a novel paradigm for biofuel production from lignocellulosic feedstocks, AP.TEM

Abstract

In the challenging context of the Paris discussion (COP21-2015), biogas production returns to global highlight, and consequently, government and industrial initiatives. Production is performed through Anaerobic Digestion (AD), which allows the recovery of the energy source through the use of methane (CH4), in addition to the possible generation of by-products with value to the agro-industry. In a life-expectancy scenario, substrates derived from sugar-alcohol activity are are considered potential facilitators of the development of biorefineries, making the system more resilient and versatile. It is notorious how intense the interest has been in the use of lignocellulosic byproducts for the production of methane. However, there are gaps in the literature regarding AD of waste from the production of lignocellulosic (or second generation, 2G) ethanol, but it is known that its recalcitrance may be an obstacle to the biological process. In this scenario, the co-digestion with substrates more easily biodegradable appears as an interesting alternative, being able to soften the inhibitory effects of those residues to AD. Alongside this, there are crucial parameters and conditions to be investigated that could provide better understanding and optimization of anaerobic co-digestion, such as redox potential, the identification of the proteome and of the microbial consortium and the use of nanoparticles in the production of biogas. Such information is scarce in the literature, and even non existent with respect to the use of by-products of the production of 2G ethanol for the production of biogas. In this context, the present project aims to explore biogas production in an innovative biorefinery concept for the lignocellulosic ethanol integrated into the traditional production of ethanol from sugarcane from the co-digestion of its residues (e.g., vinasse, filter cake and pretreatment and hydrolysis residues), in which the potential for production of CH4 is assessed. The project includes the monitoring of redox potential and proteome analyzes and identification of the microbial consortium through Molecular Biology techniques along the co-digestion, as well as the investigation of the continuous production of methane with the use of nanoparticles, opening up alternative possibilities for process optimization in sugarcane biorefineries. The development of this project should become one of the first sources of knowledge for the Brazilian production of 2G ethanol coupled with environmental responsibility. This project is linked to thematic project FAPESP-BBSRC n° 15/50612-8. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

VOLPI, MARIA PAULA. C.; BRENELLI, LIVIA B.; MOCKAITIS, GUSTAVO; RABELO, SARITA C.; FRANCO, TELMA T.; MORAES, BRUNA S.. Use of Lignocellulosic Residue from Second-Generation Ethanol Production to Enhance Methane Production Through Co-digestion. BioEnergy Research, JUN 2021. (17/15477-8, 18/09893-1, 16/16438-3, 15/50612-8)

VOLPI, MARIA PAULA C.; FUESS, LUCAS T.; MORAES, BRUNA S.. Economic performance of biogas production and use from residues co-digestion in integrated 1G2G sugarcane biorefineries: Better electricity or biomethane?. ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT, v. 277, p. 13-pg., 2023-01-13. (18/09893-1, 16/16438-3)

VOLPI, MARIA PAULA C.; FERRAZ JUNIOR, ANTONIO DJALMA N.; FRANCO, TELMA T.; MORAES, BRUNA S.. perational and biochemical aspects of co-digestion (co-AD) from sugarcane vinasse, filter cake, and deacetylation liquo. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, v. 105, n. 23, OCT 2021. (18/09893-1, 16/16438-3, 15/50612-8)

VOLPI, MARIA PAULA. C.; BRENELLI, LIVIA B.; MOCKAITIS, GUSTAVO; RABELO, SARITA C.; FRANCO, TELMA T.; MORAES, BRUNA S.. Use of Lignocellulosic Residue from Second-Generation Ethanol Production to Enhance Methane Production Through Co-digestion. BioEnergy Research, v. 15, n. 1, p. 15-pg., 2021-06-22. (15/50612-8, 18/09893-1, 17/15477-8, 16/16438-3)

VOLPI, MARIA PAULA C.; FUESS, LUCAS T.; MORAES, BRUNA S.. Anaerobic co-digestion of residues in 1G2G sugarcane biorefineries for enhanced electricity and biomethane production. Bioresource Technology, v. 330, p. 10-pg., 2021-03-26. (16/16438-3, 18/09893-1, 15/50612-8)

VOLPI, MARIA PAULA C.; FUESS, LUCAS T.; MORAES, BRUNA S.. naerobic co-digestion of residues in 1G2G sugarcane biorefineries for enhanced electricity and biomethane productio. Bioresource Technology, v. 330, JUN 2021. (15/50612-8, 16/16438-3, 18/09893-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

VOLPI, Maria Paula Cardeal. Produção de biogás integrada ao conceito de biorrefinaria para biomassa lignocelulósica: aspectos operacionais e uso de nanopartículas. 2022. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos Campinas, SP.