Application of enzymatic treatments and lignin nanoparticles in the development of a customized nanocellulose for the manufacture of active and sustainable packaging

• Grant number: 21/04324-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Valdeir Arantes
• Grantee: Bruno Las Casas Chaves
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Due to several aspects such as high performance, biodegradability, and the growing market perspectives, nanocellulose emerges as a material with potential to not only replace synthetic polymers, but also to develop green and active food packaging. Thus, this project aims to develop and analyse specific enzymatic treatments in order to produce nanocellulose with customized properties - such as barrier properties, transparency, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities - for food packaging applications. Nonetheless, the greatest challenge faced by customization is to reach an equilibrium between the properties once there is a trade-off between them. Therefore, this project aims to examine specific enzymatic pre- and pos-treatments, and the incorporation of lignin nanoparticles (LNP) to produce a customized cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) for further development of green and active packaging. Customization process will be divided into three stages and for each stage different conditions will be assayed: 1) endoglucanase pre-treatment; 2) xylanase post-treatment; 3) incorporation of LNPs. In each stage, CNFs will be selected regarding desirable properties for food packaging application. Finally, studies about production, characterization, biodegradability, and validation of the produced packaging will also be performed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(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)

LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Endoglucanase pretreatment aids in isolating tailored-cellulose nanofibrils combining energy saving and high-performance packaging. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 242, p. 15-pg., 2023-06-07. (21/04324-1, 21/07023-2)

DA CRUZ, TATIANE TOBIAS; LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; DIAS, ISABELLA KAROLINE RIBEIRO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Nanocelluloses as sustainable emerging technologies: State of the art and future challenges based on life cycle assessment. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES, v. 41, p. 36-pg., 2024-08-22. (21/07023-2, 21/04324-1)

YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; SANCHEZ-MONCADA, BENJI JHONATAN; LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; CASTRO-ALVARADO, ANGEL PABLO. Simple one-step treatment for saccharification of mango peels using an optimized enzyme cocktail of Aspergillus niger ATCC 9642. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 55, n. 2, p. 16-pg., 2024-03-12. (21/04324-1)

LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Exploring xylan removal via enzymatic post-treatment to tailor the properties of cellulose nanofibrils for packaging film applications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 274, p. 12-pg., 2024-06-28. (21/07023-2, 21/04324-1)

ARANTES, VALDEIR; LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; DIAS, ISABELLA K. R.; YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; NOGUEIRA, CARLAILE F. O.; MARCONDES, WILIAN F.. Enzymatic approaches for diversifying bioproducts from cellulosic biomass. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, v. 60, n. 72, p. 29-pg., 2024-07-26. (21/11907-3, 15/02862-5, 15/00397-3, 21/07023-2, 20/04665-0, 21/04324-1)

LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. From production to performance: Tailoring moisture and oxygen barrier of cellulose nanomaterials for sustainable applications - A review. Carbohydrate Polymers, v. 334, p. 17-pg., 2024-03-13. (21/07023-2, 21/04324-1)

LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; DIAS, ISABELLA K. R.; YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; PEREIRA, BARBARA; COSTA, GUILHERME R.; ROJAS, ORLANDO J.; ARANTES, VALDEIR. The emergence of hybrid cellulose nanomaterials as promising biomaterials. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 250, p. 27-pg., 2023-10-01. (21/04324-1, 21/07023-2)