EVALUATION OF THE STRUCTURE-PERFORMANCE CORRELATION OF KRAFT LIGNIN FRACTIONS: Insights for Sustainable Agriculture

• Grant number: 23/00335-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto
• Grantee: Jessica de Souza Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10639-5 - Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, AP.CEPID

Abstract

With the increased use of agrochemicals over the past two decades, it has become crucial to find alternative products and processes that are less harmful to the environment and human health. The use of biopolymers in this sector has been considered a valuable strategy that can revolutionize the agricultural sector and provide solutions to current and future concerns around sustainable and climate-sensitive crops. One of these alternatives is the use of lignin biopolymer, which is abundant in both agricultural waste and black liquor from the pulp and paper industry. Added to this, the use of lignin in nanotechnology has proven to be important and current, since at the nanometric scale certain characteristics of lignin, such as its antibacterial and antioxidant activities, are improved compared to bulk materials due to the greater number of phenolic moieties. surface and greater thermal stability. This project intends to study the fractionation of kraft lignin (KL) in green solvent (acetic acid) to obtain fractions with specific molar masses, as well as to study its physicochemical and structural characteristics. From the fractions, it is expected to evaluate the potential use as: i) UV protector aiming applications in biological control formulations using the fungus Tricoderma harzianum as a model; ii) use as an emulsifying agent in active ingredient formulations and iii) use in the development of lignin-based nanoparticles for encapsulating active ingredients (pesticides, fungicides, growth hormones). In this way, it is expected to correlate the use of fractions of a biopolymer with a view to potential use in agriculture in order to promote a more sustainable agriculture.

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)

DE FREITAS, AMANDA S. M.; RODRIGUES, JESSICA S.; AMARO, STEFANNY F.; RAMOS, BEATRIZ M.; FERREIRA, MARYSTELA. Dye Contaminant Removal: Adsorption on Thermoplastic Starch/Kraft Lignin Composites and Photodegradation. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 36, n. 5, p. 12-pg., 2025-01-01. (14/50869-6, 23/00335-4, 23/17363-0)

CAMARGO, JESSICA ROCHA; ORZARI, LUIZ OTAVIO; RODRIGUES, JESSICA DE SOUZA; DE LIMA, LUCAS FELIPE; PAIXAO, THIAGO REGIS LONGO CESAR; FRACETO, LEONARDO FERNANDES; JANEGITZ, BRUNO CAMPOS. Advancements in disposable electrochemical systems for sustainable agriculture monitoring: Trends, gaps, and applied examples. TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, v. 180, p. 14-pg., 2024-09-13. (17/21004-5, 22/03399-0, 21/10639-5, 19/04758-1, 19/23342-0, 23/12589-0, 23/00246-1, 23/06793-4, 19/23177-0, 22/00509-0, 23/00335-4)

RODRIGUES, JESSICA S.; TAKESHITA, VANESSA; CAMPOS, ESTEFANIA V. R.; DE FREITAS, AMANDA S. M.; DE LIMA, VITOR H.; FRACETO, LEONARDO F.. Lignocellulosic Biomass in Nanopesticides: A Path toward Sustainable Agriculture. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, v. 12, n. 27, p. 23-pg., 2024-06-22. (17/21004-5, 22/03399-0, 21/10639-5, 19/04758-1, 22/00509-0, 23/00335-4)

DE FREITAS, AMANDA S. M.; RODRIGUES, JESSICA S.; FRE, LUCAS V. B.; VIEIRA, HENRIQUE O. S.; NASCIMENTO, MARIA E. S.; AMARO, STEFANNY F.; EMIDIO, LIVIA S.; ARAUJO, DANIELE R. DE; SEPULVEDA, ANDERSON F.; KOMATSU, DANIEL; et al. A dual approach with lignin and nanolignin: Reinforcing UV stability and sustainability in PVA matrices. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 314, p. 15-pg., 2025-06-01. (23/06505-9, 21/10639-5, 23/00335-4, 24/14149-0, 24/01872-6)

RODRIGUES, JESSICA S.; DE FREITAS, AMANDA S. M.; BOTARO, VAGNER R.; FERREIRA, MARYSTELA; FRACETO, LEONARDO F.. Tailoring kraft lignin for high-performance nanoparticles: from structure to function. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 312, p. 12-pg., 2025-06-01. (23/06505-9, 21/10639-5, 23/00335-4, 17/21004-5, 24/14149-0, 24/01872-6)

DE FREITAS, AMANDA DE S. M.; FRE, LUCAS V. B. V.; RODRIGUES, JESSICA S.; AMARO, STEFANNY F.; DE BARROS, ANERISE; NASCIMENTO, MARIA E. S.; FERREIRA, MARYSTELA. Simultaneous Electrochemical Detection of Paraquat and Carbofuran Using a Biodegradable Flexible Electrode, Enhanced with Carbon Nitride Dots and Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) via Layer-by-Layer Technique. TOPICS IN CATALYSIS, v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2024-10-14. (23/00335-4, 23/17363-0)

RODRIGUES, JESSICA S.; DE FREITAS, AMANDA S. M.; VIEIRA, HENRIQUE O. S.; EMIDIO, LIVIA S.; AMARO, STEFANNY F.; AZEVEDO, MARIANA A.; DUARTE, IOLANDA C. S.; BOTARO, VAGNER R.; FRACETO, LEONARDO F.; FERREIRA, MARYSTELA. Designing sustainable soil conditioners: Nanocomposite-based thermoplastic starch for enhanced soil health and crop performance. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 297, p. 14-pg., 2025-01-14. (17/21004-5, 23/06505-9, 24/14149-0, 14/50869-6, 21/10639-5, 23/00335-4, 24/01872-6)