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| Author(s): |
Emília Savioli Lopes
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | Campinas, SP. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Química |
| Defense date: | 2019-12-02 |
| Examining board members: |
Rubens Maciel Filho;
Adriano Pinto Mariano;
Adilson Roberto Gonçalves;
Betânia Hoss Lunelli;
George Jackson de Moraes Rocha
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| Advisor: | Rubens Maciel Filho; Laura Plazas Tovar |
| Abstract | |
Levulinic acid (LA), a high value-added product, can modulate the concept of biorefinery as a driver of the emerging bioindustry, as shown in the first Thesis approach: "Learning through experience" (Chapter 2). LA is obtained by catalytic processes using as a substrate, for example, by-products from agro-industry. To this end, this Thesis addressed the construction of a reactor to obtain LA (Chapter 3) through byproducts of sugarcane agroindustry: bagasse-SCB and molasses-SCM. The reactor is composed of two stainless steel vessels (300 mL internal volume), with a pressure control system and an electric resistance heating system. The reactor performance evaluation allowed to define operating limits of 200 °C and 20 bar. In order to consolidate kinetic mechanisms, including a wide range of conditions, SCB was deconstructed in the presence of hydrogenation catalysts. The analysis of kinetic parameters was performed in LA and intermediate and side reactions to glucose, 5-HMF and humins (HUs) on acid catalysis (150-190 °C/0-75 min/liquid:solid ratio=10/3,0 - 7.0% w/v H2SO4) (Chapter 4). Synergy with other potential agroindustry residues (rice husk (RH) and soybean straw (SS)) defined attractive LA yields of 61.1 mol%, 67.7 mol%, 61.4 mol% (190 °C/7% w/v H2SO4/75 min) for cellulosic materials from SCB, RH and SS. Thus, the opportunity for growth of LA has been proved by integrating the use of three biomasses, which can be used under advantageous conditions, given their availability and seasonal pattern with complementary harvest periods. Taking into account that byproduct-driven sustainability leads to high value-added products (Chapter 5), a process optimization involving 3-step biorefining (pretreatment, delignification and conversion of acid-catalyzed of cellulose) was then performed. The LA concentration of ~25 g/L was obtained under the optimized conditions of the third step (180 °C/75 min/7.0% w/v H2SO4/12.0% w/v solid loading). In addition to the previous one, in Chapter 5, a scenario assessment is carried out defining opportunities and challenges for other by-products (the HUs) with 13.3 kg/100kgBCA production, although relatively low, when compared with an acid-catalyzed decomposition strategy (1 and 2 stages of biorefining) and hydrothermal decomposition (non-catalytic). Given the great interest of AL and the potential of SCM, important contributions were obtained by investigating, in Chapter 6, different catalytic mixtures of SCM and reaction medium (H2SO4 acid solution). Relatively high AL concentrations (> 142 g/L at 185 °C, 9% w/v H2SO4 and 10:20/3 acid-to-MCA volume ratio) set a new level of opportunity where SCM can be included in the sugarcane agribusiness value chain with yields > 80%. Thus, in the near future, decision-making and identification of opportunities in existing and potential markets may rethink the value chain of the sugarcane agroindustry in synergy with the food agroindustry (rice and soybean) (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 15/17592-3 - Production optimization and obtainment of levulinic acid from sugarcane bagasse and molasses |
| Grantee: | Emília Savioli Lopes |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |