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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 bringswith it two problems: the depletion of resources in the face of growing demand and theemission of air pollutants. In this context, the use of agricultural surpluses such aslignocellulosic biomass, demonstrates a high potential for biofuels production as asustainable energy alternative. Considering the characteristics of the biomass in terms ofits cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin constituents, as well as its recalcitrance, it isnecessary to process the such biomass using different pretreatment methods andenzymatic hydrolysis, to promote the depolymerization of the main carbohydratecompounds in fermentable sugars. In recent years, new scientific research has beenconducted to overcome the operational, economic and environmental problems faced intraditional pretreatment processes. In this context, functionalized magnetic nanoparticles(MNPs) can be used as catalysts which can be helpful to replace the traditionalpretreatment processes. The magnetic nature of such catalysts facilitate the simplerecovery and reuse of same catalysts for multiple cycles of reactions, thus reducing theenvironmental impacts and production costs of these processes. Considering these facts,the present work is aimed to synthesize the nanobiocatalysts (by immobilizing cellulaseenzyme on MNPs) and evaluate it efficacy in the enzymatic hydrolysis oflignocellulosic biomass of sugarcane bagasse to obtain fermentable sugars. Thechemical precipitation method will be used for the production of MNPs, later it will beactivated with glutaraldehyde and cellulase enzyme will be immobilized on activatedMNPs. After the immobilization of the enzymes, the nanobiocatalysts produced will beapplied in the enzymatic hydrolysis and also compared with conventional enzymatichydrolysis. The sugar released after hydrolysis will be analyzed by usingspectrophotometric reducing sugar methodology, and by high-performance liquidchromatography analysis. We strongly believe that the finding which will be obtainedfrom this study will strengthen the innovation and also increase the effectiveness ofbiotechnological processes. The development and application of magneticnanobiocatalysts will definitely minimize the cost involved in enzymatic hydrolysis,which is considered as main concern in the process of bioethanol production, and thewill proposed study will develop new eco friendly and economic alternative approachfor conventional enzymatic methods. In addition, it promote the exploration of theprominent area of nanotechnology and technical capacity of the scientific initiationstudent, opening, furthermore, horizons for new studies.

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Scientific publications
(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)
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, . (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, . (16/10636-8, 19/19695-5, 16/22086-2)