Application of nanocatalysts in the enzymatic hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic biomass of sorghum

• Grant number: 21/08974-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 25, 2021
• End date: January 24, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Silvio Silvério da Silva
• Grantee: Yasmin Cristhine de Souza Melo
• Supervisor: Nagamani Balagurusamy
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Torreón (UAdeC), Mexico
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/19695-5 - Development and synthesis of nanobiocatalysts for the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass aiming to obtain fermentable sugars for use as carbon source in biorefineries, BP.IC

Abstract

The technological improvement of processes aimed to the use of plant residues for the generation of high value-added products is an area of increasing attention for enabling the implementation of biorefineries around the globe. To this end, there are many efforts to promote the use of lignocellulosic biomass for the prospection of sugars that can be used for the production of bioproducts and biofuels. Apart from reducing the dependence on fossil fuels, it also helps to promote the recovery of energy from agricultural waste biomass by adding value by integrating it in a sustainable way in various sectors such as agriculture, environment and energy. This proposal foresees the confluence between the use of the residual biomass of Sorghum and the technological innovation resulting from the exploitation of nanotechnology. In this context, the proposed project is a partnership between the bioprocess laboratory of Dr. Silvio Silvério da Silva (located at the Lorena School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Brazil) and the Bioremediation laboratory of Professor Dr. Nagamani Balagurusamy (located in the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the Autonomous University of Coahuila, Mexico). The proposal aims at the application of nanocatalysts; cellulase enzymes immobilized in magnetic nanoparticles to achieve enzymatic hydrolysis of the Sorghum biomass. Sorghum biomass was chosen as the region, Comarca Lagunera, where the exchange laboratory is situated in Torreón, Mexico is rich in livestock and where the agricultural activities focus on Sorghum production as feed for the animals. Hence, it becomes essential to look for sustainable management of this lignocellulosic biomass. Developing a sustainable and an efficient nanotechnology is the key to recover the energy present in the biomass in the form of biofuels and thereby could aid in reducing reliance on sugarcane biomass. The enzyme immobilization method will concentrate on the use of glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker between the surface of nanoparticles and the amino groups of cellulase from the enzyme cocktail Cellic Ctec 2. The enzymatic hydrolysis will be carried out using the Sorghum biomass pretreated under different conditions (acid, alkaline and sequential) and release of sugars will be determined by dinitrosalicylic acid method. In addition, Scanning Electron Microscopy and an electrophoresis gel analysis will be performed to assist in understanding the mechanism of nanocatalysts on biomass and the immobilization process, respectively. Based on the results, it will be possible to validate the method for different biomasses, its applicability and relevance, as well as to verify the efficiency of the pretreatments used in this proposal. The results obtained from this study will also be used for comparison with the results obtained in the project "Development and synthesis of nanobiocatalysts for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass aiming to obtain fermentable sugars for use as carbon source in biorefineries'', which would permit to draw a conclusion on the efficiency of the process developed. Moreover, based on the research carried out with Sorghum in combination with nanocatalysts could lead to development of sustainable process with implications on the generation of scientific products, viz., scientific manpower development in both partner Universities, publication of scientific papers in journals indexed in JCR/ Scopus or registering a patent, and moreover will contribute to strengthening the research ties between Brazil and Mexico. Finally, the exchange will aid in the integral formation of the exchange student, not only on knowledge enrichment and skill development, increasing the autonomy and critical capacity, but also improve the student's understanding on culture and tolerance. (AU)