Advancing the Deconstruction of Lignocellulosic Biomass for the Production of Biofuels and Goods for the Transportation Sector: An Innovative Approach Using Hydrodynamic Cavitation and Magnetic Nanoparticle Addition

• Grant number: 25/12513-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Silvio Silvério da Silva
• Grantee: Naiara Jacinta Clerici
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/09789-8 - Decarbonization of transport for the benefit of society: enhancing sustainability with the integration of biochemical and thermal routes in the integral use of biomass, AP.TEM

Abstract

This proposal aims to advance the development of a sustainable process for the production of second-generation sugars and their derived products through pretreatments assisted by hydrodynamic cavitation and magnetic nanoparticles. Essentially, the main objective of this project is to develop a robust technological system for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass and subsequently integrate these steps into a semi-consolidated process of pretreatment and saccharification. These two steps represent the main challenge in the use of lignocellulosic biomass in biorefineries. The first step is intrinsically related to the significant consumption of reagents, as well as their limited recovery. In this context, hydrodynamic cavitation stands out as a promising tool for treating lignocellulosic biomass, reducing the amount of reagents required, as well as the reaction time and involved temperatures, making scale-up feasible. On the other hand, the second step faces the challenge of the high cost of enzymes required for the saccharification of the carbohydrate polymer fractions of lignocellulosic biomass, along with their limited recovery efficiency. In this scenario, the use of magnetic nanoparticles plays a crucial role, significantly contributing to improving enzyme reuse. This enhancement results in the production of fermentable sugars that can be employed in the generation of fuels and in obtaining high value-added molecules. Advances in the development of intensified methodologies for biomass deconstruction have led to a more sustainable approach to the decarbonization of everyday processes, such as transportation. This project, therefore, aims to address these challenges and contribute to the implementation of more efficient and sustainable processes for the use of lignocellulosic biomass.