Lignocellulosic biomass processing using ionic liquids for biorefinery application

• Grant number: 19/19976-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Marcus Bruno Soares Forte
• Grantee: Felipe Augusto Ferrari
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). 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

Climate changes, due to the historical depletion of natural resources, have led us to rethink technology driving. The replacement of fossil fuels by renewable alternatives has been studied in order to mitigate the environmental impact of energy production. However, the use of lignocellulosic residues, such as Sugar Cane Straw (SW) for biofuels synthesis, demands pre-treatment, due to its complexity. The recent use of Ionic Liquids (IL) in this process emerges as a strategy to overcome the problems faced, such as high energy demand and inhibitory compounds production. In this context, this project proposes the use of protic, cheap and simple IL as pre-treatment strategy to valorize biomass in an economic and environmental sustainable way. In a pioneer study, the effect on pre-treatment of the major operational conditions reported in literature were assessed regarding residual solid chemical composition and enzymatic digestibility. IL purification and recycle strategy was proposed, which will be evaluated in the next block of experiments. Finally, process environmental and economic sustainability will be assessed, proposing a potential scope of products, adding value for the whole process. (AU)