Sustainable utilization of steep water and crude oil derived from corn maceration for the production of biosurfactant by Yarrowia lipolytica

• Grant number: 24/19070-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Silvio Silvério da Silva
• Grantee: Guilherme de Oliveira Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/06563-4 - Biosurfactant and organic acids biotechnological production from corn industry by-products with real-time monitoring by a machine learning model, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Surfactants are amphipathic molecules with surfactant and emulsifying properties. Thus, they are capable of reducing surface and interfacial tension between different phases, in addition to emulsifying and stabilizing emulsions between immiscible liquids. With the encouragement of sustainable development research, the priority has been given to the production and use of compounds and products that do not cause harm to the environment, so-called eco-friendly products. Biosurfactants are molecules that have properties equal to or better than synthetic surfactants, with lower toxicity and greater biodegradability, making them essential for the development of an ecologically sustainable future. The non-conventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica can produce biosurfactants with emulsifying characteristics, as well as other compounds with high added value, using low-cost renewable raw materials in fermentation processes. Furthermore, it has GRAS status, meaning that it can be used in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural industries. As the cost of producing biosurfactants is the main challenge for their greater use, this project aims to use maceration liquor and crude oil, both being by-products of maize industry, to verify the viability of production in possible maize biorefineries, in addition to carrying out the preliminary characterization of the biosurfactant produced. Therefore, it is expected that this project will contribute to the development of technologies of sustainable bioproducts obtention, evaluating biosurfactants as potential alternatives for biorefineries.