Design and application of green methods for the extraction of high value-added organic compounds from agro-industrial residues

Abstract

The aim of this project is to investigate the design and application of incipient processes in Brazil for the extraction, associated with purification and/or integrated transformation of organic compounds derived from relevant regional agro-industrial residues, emphasising the integrated use of green technologies, such as microwave assisted extraction (MAE). Searching for materials such as fluids, solvents, catalysts and adsorbents from renewable sources, which includes designing, developing and using innovative laboratory-scale methods in pilot plants has become more extensive, as well as challenging when considering separating and transforming medium and high polarity substances from complex matrices. In addition to the high efficiency, reproducibility, stability and possibility for automation and scaling, integrated methods should be intrinsically green. Separating and/or converting residual biomass into chemical compounds and energy through chemical, biochemical and thermochemical routes will be defined after an analysis based on the concepts of state-of-the-art biorefineries and circular economy. In this context, production chains will be studied together with companies established in São Paulo, which are significant when considering the quantity and diversity of valuable compounds found in residues, such as soybean and fruits (passion fruit, mango and guava), e.g., bioactive compounds, polysaccharides and proteins. (AU)