Optimization of the enzymatic cocktail to obtain nanocellulose from the residual biomass of 2G ethanol processing

• Grant number: 19/15400-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2019
• End date: May 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Cristiane Sanchez Farinas
• Grantee: Graziela Solferini Baccarin
• Host Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/10636-8 - From the cell factory to the Biodiesel-Bioethanol integrated biorefinery: a systems approach applied to complex problems in micro and macroscales, AP.BIOEN.TEM

Abstract

In the 2G ethanol production process by the enzymatic route, a complete scarification of the cellulose structure is not achieved, especially in processes with high solids loading. This residual solid fraction of the scarification process is a material with crystalline characteristics, which allows its use in the form of nanocellulose. Nanocellulose, whether in the form of nanofibers or nanocrystals, has applications in different industrial sectors, such as cosmetics, medicine, packaging industry, biocatalysts, among others. In this project, it is proposed to evaluate enzymatic cocktails that have better performance in the hydrolysis of the biomass associated to the generation of a residual solid with characteristics of nanocellulose. Thus, it is intended to evaluate different commercial enzymatic cocktails and also the association of enzymes produced in-house aiming to obtain nanocellulose exclusively by technologies associated to the concepts of green chemistry. The choice of the enzymatic formulation that results in soluble sugars to obtain 2G ethanol associated with a residual solid that has physicochemical characteristics of nanocellulose may contribute to the integration of these processes.

Scientific publications

(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)

BONDANCIA, THALITA J. J.; FLORENCIO, CAMILA; BACCARIN, GRAZIELA S. S.; FARINAS, CRISTIANE S. S.. Cellulose nanostructures obtained using enzymatic cocktails with different compositions. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 207, p. 9-pg., 2022-05-15. (16/10636-8, 19/15400-0, 19/05159-4, 19/25261-8)