Obtaining soluble carbohydrates and lignin monomers from the sugacane bagasse using green solvents

• Grant number: 22/15814-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Roberta Ceriani
• Grantee: Ericsem Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11380-5 - CPTEn - São Paulo Center for the Study of Energy Transition, AP.CCD

Abstract

The sugarcane bagasse is the main agro-industrial residue of the sugar and alcohol industry in Brazil. It can be converted to the production of second generation ethanol (2G) and various bioproducts. Despite recent advances, there are still several opportunities to be investigated in the development of technologies for converting sugarcane bagasse into products with high added value. This postdoctoral research project has as main objective to investigate the use of green solvents gamma-valerolactone (GVL) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) in pre-treatment processes and fractionation of sugarcane bagasse, seeking alternatives to chemical methods and enzymes currently used for the biotechnological conversion of this biomass. In the first stage of this project, the solubilities of sugarcane bagasse, as well as its cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin fractions, in GVL and THF will be evaluated. Different combinations between the variables that influence the biomass pretreatment process (temperature, intake frequency, residence time and solvent/biomass ratio) must be evaluated at this stage of the project. (AU)