Development and synthesis of nanobiocatalysts for the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass aiming to obtain fermentable sugars for use as carbon source in biorefineries

• Grant number: 19/19695-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2020
• End date: April 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Silvio Silvério da Silva
• Grantee: Yasmin Cristhine de Souza Melo
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , 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
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/08974-0 - Application of nanocatalysts in the enzymatic hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic biomass of sorghum, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Fossil fuels are currently the main pillars of the world energy matrix, which brings with it two problems: the depletion of resources in the face of growing demand and the emission of air pollutants. In this context, the use of agricultural surpluses such as lignocellulosic biomass demonstrates a high potential for biofuels production as a sustainable energy alternative. Considering the characteristics of the biomass in terms of its cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin constituents, as well as its recalcitrance, it is necessary to process such biomass using different pretreatment methods and enzymatic hydrolysis, to promote the depolymerization of the main carbohydrate compounds in fermentable sugars. In recent years, new scientific research has been conducted to overcome the operational, economic and environmental problems faced in traditional pretreatment processes. In this context, functionalized magnetic nanoparticles(MNPs) can be used as catalysts which can be helpful to replace the traditional pretreatment processes. The magnetic nature of such catalysts facilitates the simple recovery and reuse of the same catalysts for multiple cycles of reactions, thus reducing the environmental impacts and production costs of these processes. Considering these facts, the present work is aimed to synthesize the nanocatalysts (by immobilizing cellulase enzyme on MNPs) and evaluate it efficacy in the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass of sugarcane bagasse to obtain fermentable sugars. The chemical precipitation method will be used for the production of MNPs, later it will be activated with glutaraldehyde and cellulase enzyme will be immobilized on activatedMNPs. After the immobilization of the enzymes, the nanocatalysts produced will be applied in the enzymatic hydrolysis and also compared with conventional enzymatic hydrolysis. The sugar released after hydrolysis will be analyzed by using spectrophotometric reducing sugar methodology, and by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. We strongly believe that the finding which will be obtained from this study will strengthen the innovation and also increase the effectiveness of biotechnological processes. The development and application of magneticnanobiocatalysts will definitely minimize the cost involved in enzymatic hydrolysis, which is considered as the main concern in the process of bioethanol production, and the will proposed study will develop new eco-friendly and economic alternative approach for conventional enzymatic methods. In addition, it promotes the exploration of the prominent area of nanotechnology and technical capacity of the scientific initiation student, opening, furthermore, horizons for new studies.

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)

ANTUNES, F. A. F.; MACHADO, P. E. M.; ROCHA, T. M.; MELO, Y. C. S.; SANTOS, J. C.; DA SILVA, S. S.. Column reactors in fluidized bed configuration as intensification system for xylitol and ethanol production from napier grass (Pennisetum Purpureum). CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING, v. 164, JUL 2021. (16/10636-8, 19/19695-5, 14/27055-2)

INGLE, AVINASH P.; PHILIPPINI, RAFAEL RODRIGUES; DE SOUZA MELO, YASMIN CRISTHINE; DA SILVA, SILVIO SILVERIO. Acid-functionalized magnetic nanocatalysts mediated pretreatment of sugarcane straw: an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach. Cellulose, v. 27, n. 12, JUN 2020. (16/10636-8, 19/19695-5, 16/22086-2)