Brewer's Spent Grain utilization for the production of xylooligosaccharides and bioadsorbent agents

• Grant number: 25/15158-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Rosana Goldbeck Coelho
• Grantee: Caio Fuini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/15221-1 - Xylooligosaccharides production from agroindustrial wastes and technological application in meat and plant-based products, AP.R

Abstract

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are oligomers derived from xylan, which is found in the hemicellulose fraction of plant materials, and are recognized for their prebiotic action, by promoting benefits to the gut microbiota, contributing to the growth of beneficial bacteria. These compounds can be obtained from lignocellulosic residues, mainly of agro-industrial origin. In this context, brewer's spent grain from the brewing industry stands out as one of the main solid residues generated on a large scale in this sector. Therefore, this project aims to utilize brewer's spent grain for the production of xylooligosaccharides and bioadsorbents intended for the purification of the produced XOS, in order to enable their application in the industrial sector. Initially, the xylan present in the biomass will be extracted, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain the XOS. The residual biomass will then be reused to produce the bioadsorbent, which will subsequently be compared with commercial activated carbon in terms of its efficiency in the XOS purification process. In summary, this project aims to align with the principles of sustainability, as it proposes an appropriate destination for agro-industrial residues, in line with the fundamentals of the circular economy, by generating value-added bioproducts for the food industry.