Sustainable production of platform chemicals with a circular economy approach: leveraging the role of coconut byproducts (Cocos nucifera) in a biorefinery context

• Grant number: 24/06628-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Tânia Forster Carneiro
• Grantee: Vanessa Cosme Ferreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/14938-4 - Waste2energy: integration of supercritical technologies and anaerobic digestion through an automated system for the production of biofuel precursors, AP.JP2

Abstract

The food industry generates a large amount of agro-industrial waste, posing challenges for the sustainable management of these materials. Transforming waste into bioproducts such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) promotes the circular economy by adding value and reducing carbon footprint. The project aims to evaluate the valorization of coconut agro-industrial waste through subcritical water extraction technology, with hydrolysis for the production of bioenergy, biocompounds (including 5-HMF and BHMF), and biopolymers. Coconut biomass will be characterized and then subjected to the extraction process to obtain bioactive compounds. Subsequently, through hydrolysis via subcritical technology, 5-HMF will be produced, and the hydrolysate will be characterized and purified using various biosorbents. After the purification process, 5-HMF will undergo hydrogenation in an autoclave to promote the formation of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), which will later be used in the synthesis of biopolymers. Finally, circular economy concepts will be applied through all mass and energy balance calculations, establishing a methodology based on the combination of biorefinery concepts, circular bioeconomy, and sustainability. This approach can contribute to the replacement of conventional polymers derived from fossil sources with renewable alternatives. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(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)

BARROSO, TIAGO LINHARES CRUZ TABOSA; CASTRO, LUIZ EDUARDO NOCHI; DA CRUZ, ELDER PACHECO; FERREIRA, VANESSA COSME; DA ROSA, RAFAEL GABRIEL; GOLDBECK, ROSANA; FORSTER-CARNEIRO, TANIA. Subcritical water hydrolysis followed by pre-purification of cashew apple bagasse hydrolysates to produce fermentable sugar. Food Research International, v. 219, p. 13-pg., 2025-11-01. (18/14938-4, 21/04096-9, 22/15221-1, 23/02064-8, 24/06628-6)

MANCANO, ROSANA RABELO; MATHEUS, LARISSA RESENDE; CASTRO, LUIZ EDUARDO NOCHI; BARROSO, TIAGO LINHARES CRUZ TABOSA; DA ROSA, RAFAEL GABRIEL; FERREIRA, VANESSA COSME; FORSTER-CARNEIRO, TANIA; COLPINI, LEDA MARIA SARAGIOTTO. Extraction techniques for propolis and its utilization in silver nanoparticle synthesis: a comprehensive review. EUROPEAN FOOD RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 37-pg., 2025-04-05. (24/06628-6, 21/04096-9, 23/02064-8)

BARROSO, TIAGO LINHARES CRUZ TABOSA; FERREIRA, VANESSA COSME; CASTRO, LUIZ EDUARDO NOCHI; DA ROSA, RAFAEL GABRIEL; DE SOUZA, LUIZ GUSTAVO ANTONIO; GOLDBECK, ROSANA; FORSTER-CARNEIRO, TANIA. Bioenergy and bioproducts from cashew apple bagasse: a scientometric overview and strategies for sustainable utilization. BIOFUELS BIOPRODUCTS & BIOREFINING-BIOFPR, v. N/A, p. 30-pg., 2024-12-17. (21/04096-9, 24/06628-6, 23/02064-8, 18/14938-4, 22/15221-1)

CASTRO, LUIZ EDUARDO NOCHI; SGANZERLA, WILLIAM GUSTAVO; MATHEUS, LARISSA RESENDE; FERREIRA, VANESSA COSME; ROSTAGNO, MAURICIO ARIEL; FORSTER-CARNEIRO, TANIA. Subcritical Water Processing of Grape Pomace (Vitis vinifera L.): Kinetic Evaluation of Sugar Production and By-Product Formation. BIOMASS-SWITZERLAND, v. 5, n. 2, p. 14-pg., 2025-06-03. (18/14582-5, 18/14938-4, 21/04096-9, 24/06628-6)