INNOVATIVE ANTIBACTERIAL AGENT FROM AVOCADO SEED COMBINED WITH CHEMICAL MOLECULES TO INHIBIT CONTAMINATING BACTERIA FROM FUEL ETHANOL PRODUCTION

• Grant number: 24/09593-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Pedro de Oliva Neto
• Grantee: Matheus Santos Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The search for more efficient methods in the production of ethanol fuel has been a constant concern for researchers in Brazil, given that the country occupies the position of the second largest producer of this biofuel in the world (VIDAL, M. F., 2022). However, one of the pressing challenges faced during this process is contamination by microorganisms, particularly lactic acid bacteria, especially Limosilactobacillus fermentum, (formerly Lactobacillus fermentum). The control of this bacterial proliferation has implied considerable expenses, especially with the use of antibiotics (monensin, virginiamycin among others) (ANTÔNIO, M. B., 2016). To address this problem, this project proposes to reduce contamination rates through the use of a reusable product, using a pelletizing technique of avocado seed (Av), which has antibacterial properties. Thus, it was ground and immobilized in granules made with sodium alginate (Al), and previous results demonstrated that these granules achieved an impressive inhibition rate of 100% when used at a concentration of 100 mg L-1 after 48 hours of incubation at 37 °C in MRS medium (RANKE, 2021). However, in complementary studies it was pointed out negative interaction between glutaraldehyde and alcohol dehydrogenase, which affects alcohol production and yield. (Marguerite, 2016). Thus, in the present project it is intended to improve the inhibition technology of lactic acid bacteria by the pelletized avocado technique, but with other cross-linking agents.