Performance targets defined by retro-techno-economic analysis for the use of soybean protein as saccharification additive in an integrated biorefinery

Author(s)

Brondi, Mariana G. ^{[1, 2]} ; Elias, Andrew M. ^[1] ; Furlan, Felipe F. ^[1] ; Giordano, Roberto C. ^[1] ; Farinas, Cristiane S. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Grad Program Chem Engn, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Embrapa Instrumentat, Rua XV Novembro 1452, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 10, n. 1 APR 30 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

The use of additives in the enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass can have positive effects, decreasing the unproductive adsorption of cellulases on lignin and reducing the loss of enzyme activity. Soybean protein stands out as a potential lignin-blocking additive, but the economic impact of its use has not previously been investigated. Here, a systematic evaluation was performed of the process conditions, together with a techno-economic analysis, for the use of soybean protein in the saccharification of hydrothermally pretreated sugarcane bagasse in the context of an integrated 1G-2G ethanol biorefinery. Statistical experimental design methodology was firstly applied as a tool to select the process variable solids loading at 15% (w/w) and soybean protein concentration at 12% (w/w), followed by determination of enzyme dosage at 10 FPU/g and hydrolysis time of 24h. The saccharification of sugarcane bagasse under these conditions enabled an increase of 26% in the amount of glucose released, compared to the control without additive. The retro-techno-economic analysis (RTEA) technique showed that to make the biorefinery economically feasible, some performance targets should be reached experimentally such as increasing biomass conversion to ideally 80% and reducing enzyme loading to 5.6 FPU/g in the presence of low-cost soybean protein. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10636-8 - From the cell factory to the Biodiesel-Bioethanol integrated biorefinery: a systems approach applied to complex problems in micro and macroscales
• Grantee: Roberto de Campos Giordano
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/13931-3 - Soybean protein as an additive in the enzymatic hydrolysis of vegetal biomass: development and techno-economic analysis of the process
• Grantee: Mariana Govoni Brondi Wolf
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master