Utilization of natural deep eutectic solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds and proteins from rice bran: a green strategy for industrial byproduct valorization

• Grant number: 24/18866-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Stanislau Bogusz Junior
• Grantee: Eduardo de Souza Esperança
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/02297-5 - Utilization of natural deep eutectic solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds and proteins from rice bran: a green strategy for industrial byproduct valorization, AP.R

Abstract

Rice is one of the most widely cultivated cereals globally, ranking third in terms of production, standing only behind corn and wheat. Brazil stands out as the world's leading rice producer outside the Asian region, thereby contributing to the annual generation of approximately one million tons of rice bran. A significant portion of this byproduct is underutilized, predominantly employed in animal feed production, which can be deemed a substantial waste considering its nutritional and bioactive richness, eligible for industrial applications. The primary scope of this research is to synthesize and characterize various Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) with the aim of enabling the simultaneous extraction of proteins and bioactive compounds (phenolics and gamma-oryzanol) from rice bran using the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technique. The subsequent purpose involves the utilization of the obtained extracts in the chemical and food industries. To achieve this, the study is structured into four distinct phases: i) synthesis and physicochemical characterization of hydrophilic and hydrophobic NADES; ii) optimization of the extraction conditions for proteins and bioactive compounds from rice bran through the combination of NADES and UAE; iii) identification and quantification of the extracted bioactive compounds (via HPLC-MS), along with the characterization of techno-functional properties of the obtained proteins (solubility, water and oil retention capacity, emulsifying, and foaming properties). With the completion of this research, the expectation is to obtain plant proteins endowed with notable functional properties, coupled with ready-to-use extracts enriched with bioactive compounds. Additionally, proteins derived from rice bran will be employed as microencapsulating material for the extracted bioactive compounds, aiming at their application as natural antioxidants in food. This project proves to be ambitious and innovative, grounded in the conversion of byproducts rich in compounds of interest into valuable ingredients for the chemical and food industries, thereby contributing to responsible consumption and production practices.