Soybean protein as an additive in the enzymatic hydrolysis of vegetal biomass: development and techno-economic analysis of the process

Abstract

The implementation of a large-scale conversion process of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels and other bioproducts still presents technological challenges. In the context of the biochemical conversion route, the low yield of the enzymatic hydrolysis and the high cost of the enzymes stand out. Among the strategies to increase the efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolysis of the biomass, the use of additives has shown positive effects, since they decrease the unproductive adsorption of cellulases on lignin, which implies in the reduction of the process enzymes losses. However, the use of low cost additives is necessary in order to make the process economically feasible. The present masters project aims to evaluate the use of soybean protein as an additive to reduce the unproductive adsorption of enzymes during the enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse. In order to achieve this objective, the following steps will be carried out: 1) Evaluation of the effect of the operational variables (solids loading, enzyme loading and soybean protein concentration) and the effect of soybean protein time addition, using the methodology of Experimental Planning as a tool; 2) Physical-chemical characterization of the additive-biomass complex; 3) Validation of the hydrolysis experiments at different scales (5 mL tubes and 500 and 3000 mL bioreactors). Transversally to these activities, the methodology developed by LaDAbio will be used for the "retro" techno-economic analysis feasibility of the process. It will allow to set performance targets within the context of an integrated 2G biodiesel-bioethanol biorefinery. Therefore, this proposal is linked to the thematic project of the BIOEN/FAPESP program: "From the cellular plant to the integrated biodiesel-bioethanol biorefinery: a systemic approach applied to complex problems in micro and macro scales" (proc. 2016/10.636-8). (AU)