Humic-like substances from process water: complexation capacity and characterization using molecular fluorescence

• Grant number: 19/18831-2
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal researcher: Altair Benedito Moreira
• Grantee: Vinicius Sarracini Santos
• Supervisor abroad: Jean Louis Stephane Mounier
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Université de Toulon (UTLN), France
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/05673-7 - Interactions of nutrients with humic material extracted from process water of sugarcane bagasse with vinasse hydrothermal carbonization, BP.IC

Abstract

The large production of sugancane in Brasil generates high quantities of byproducts (vinasse and sugarcane bagasse). The new ways to use these products, like a hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) was studied and the uses of solid phases (hydrochar) was studied in literature, but the use and characteristics of byproduct of HTC reaction, an liquid phase (process water) has not been effectively studied. The MIO (Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography) research group at the University of Toulon-France is internationally recognized for the characterization of humic substances by Molecular Fluorescence and data treatment using CP/PARAFAC, as well as the complexation capacity employing quenching analysis and Time Resolved Fluorescence (TRF). Considering the work already started in Brazil, the aim of this project is the structural characterization of humic-like substances extracted from process water of hydrothermal carbonization and complexation capacity with copper, and, if it is possible, the interaction of these with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH). The achievement of these experiments under supervision of Professor Dr. Stéphane Mounier, specialist in the techniques proposed, will facilitate the understanding and interpretation of results, allowing a comparison between the materials, with the purpose of applying the process water. This internship will be the unique opportunity to generate unpublished data that will enable a better understanding of the material properties produced, providing important information about how carbonization process conditions change the humic material characteristics. (AU)