A biodiesel-bioaroma-lignocellulose platforms linking case: effect of protic ionic liquids and lignin on the lipase Eversa Transform 2.0 immobilization for biodiesel and citronellyl acetate food ester production in batch bioreactor

• Grant number: 22/01747-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Marcus Bruno Soares Forte
• Grantee: Nicole Marasca
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The optimization of industrial production processes is an increasing need in the most diverse sectors. Additionally, the use of eco-friendly technologies has been highly demanded at an international level in the face of current environmentally degrading global conditions. In view of such aspects, production techniques such as the use of the low-cost lipase Eversa® Transform 2.0 associated with additive compounds such as ionic liquids and lignin remaining from the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic materials, to increase the enzyme's enzymatic activity, resistance and stability of the biocatalyst matrix, represents an innovative alternative with low environmental impact to improve transesterification and esterification reactions that involve the synthesis of products such as biodiesel and flavor esters. In view of the limited number of studies on the mechanism of interaction between lipase and these additives, advanced biophysical analyzes such as Fluorescence Spectroscopy (FS) and Circular Dichroism (CD) will be performed. In addition, the ideal conditions for biocatalysis such as ionic liquid and lignin concentration in the immobilization support composition will be investigated. The Design of Experiments (DOE) statistical tool will be used to evaluate the production of biodiesel and citronellyl acetate in a batch bioreactor using the enzyme immobilized in the previous step. Finally, the viability of the synthesis will be verified by means of a techno-economic and environmental analysis. This project aims at optimized production in a batch reactor of biodiesel and Citronellyl Acetate, an ester with wide applications in the food and aromatic compounds industry, integrating low and high added value sectors (bioenergy and food) with the use of by-products from different platforms, aiming at greater cost-benefit and respecting the precepts of green chemistry that are increasingly required in industrial processes. (AU)