Hydrodynamic Cavitation-Assisted Photo-Fenton Pretreatment and Yeast Co-Culture as Strategies to Produce Ethanol and Xylitol from Sugarcane Bagasse

Author(s)

Prado, Carina Aline ; da Silva, Ana Julia E. B. ; Fernandes, Paulo A. F. H. P. ; Shibukawa, Vinicius P. ; Jofre, Fanny M. ; Rodrigues, Bruna G. ; da Silva, Silvio Silverio ; Mussatto, Solange I. ; Santos, Julio Cesar

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CATALYSTS; v. 15, n. 5, p. 14-pg., 2025-04-24.

Abstract

This study explored innovative approaches to produce ethanol and xylitol from sugarcane bagasse using a hydrodynamic cavitation-assisted photo-Fenton process as the pretreatment, and yeast co-culture for hydrolysate fermentation. Pretreatment conditions were optimized (20 mg/L of iron sulfate, pH 5.0, and reaction time of 14 min) resulting in glucan and xylan hydrolysis yields of 96% and 89%, respectively. The hydrolysate produced under these conditions was fermented using a co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae IR2 (an ethanol-producing strain) and Candida tropicalis UFMGBX12 (a xylitol-producing strain). Optimal co-culture conditions consisted of using an inoculum concentration of 1.5 g/L for each yeast strain. After 36 h of fermentation, ethanol and xylitol concentrations reached 20 g/L and 13 g/L, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of combining hydrodynamic cavitation-assisted photo-Fenton pretreatment with co-culture fermentation to simultaneously produce ethanol and xylitol. This strategy presents a promising approach for enhancing the efficiency of lignocellulosic biorefineries. (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: 20/12059-3 - Alternative technologies for ethanol and pullulan production in sugarcane bagasse biorefineries using hydrodynamic cavitation reactors and systems for simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation
• Grantee: Júlio César dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants
• FAPESP's process: 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
• Grantee: Silvio Silvério da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/16638-8 - Evaluation of 2G ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse pretreated by hydrodynamic cavitation-assisted oxidative process: pretreatment conditions and utilization of simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation reactors with interconnected columns system
• Grantee: Maria Laura Silva Cunha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation