Biotechnology and Biorefinery

Search for information on the internet about operating units that work on each topic covered in class.

Conducting research aimed at presenting a topic within the area.

Completing a project to develop the topic.

Fossil raw materials have been, over the last few decades, a cheap source of starting materials, necessary for the manufacture of many products common to modern society. The beginning of the century was marked by an increase in the demand and consumption of oil, due to high global economic growth. In the same period, the discovery of new fossil reserves of relevant size was disappointing. In addition, political instability and war occurred in geographical areas rich in oil production. At the same time, gaseous emissions are putting the planet’s climate at risk. This context has led to an active search for solutions to replace all products related to oil, making waste and residues profitable. For this purpose, biomass is considered the only renewable product capable of serving as a source of raw materials for a wide range of products. This course will cover more recent topics on biomass conversion into potential products with market demand.

Biomass as a source of raw materials. Availability. Chemical and physical composition. Thermal decomposition: pyrolysis and “syngas” (gas producer). Fischer-Tropsch process. Syngas fermentation. Acid/enzymatic decomposition: obtaining sugars. Cellulose. Decomposition. Natural models: the termite digestive system.

Hemicellulose: hydrolysis, uses. Reduction to xylitol. Saccharification of biomass. Microcrystalline cellulose. Obtaining oligosaccharides. Cellulases. Residues: food, residual MLC, use of residues: whey. Use of sugarcane (Brazil) and cereals (USA). Urban waste. Composition. Uses. Alcoholic fermentation.

Butanol production (ABE), biogas production. Lipids: conversion to fatty acid esters (biodiesel). Esterification and transesterification. Algae: macro and microalgae. Alginates and applications. Biopolymers: Plastic substitute polymers: polyhydroxyalkanoates – PHA, polylactic acid (PLA). Other biopolymers: keratins, chitins and chitosan. Biocompatibility of materials. Hyaluronic acid. Antioxidants, terpenes.

NAO