{"id":32730,"date":"2023-03-01T22:00:25","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T01:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.usp.br\/rcgi\/?p=32730"},"modified":"2023-05-31T02:22:30","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T05:22:30","slug":"discovery-by-brazilian-researchers-could-contribute-to-increased-volume-and-lower-cost-of-producing-so-called-second-generation-ethanol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.usp.br\/rcgi\/discovery-by-brazilian-researchers-could-contribute-to-increased-volume-and-lower-cost-of-producing-so-called-second-generation-ethanol\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovery by Brazilian researchers could contribute to increased volume and lower cost of producing so-called second-generation ethanol"},"content":{"rendered":"

Physiological engineering project, supported by the RCGI, also benefits cattle feeding among livestock<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Researchers in the Plant Biochemical Laboratory of the State University of Maring\u00e1 (Bioplan-UEM) and the Ecological Physiology Laboratory of the University of S\u00e3o Paulo (LAFIECO-USP) were able to achieve up to a 120% saccharification of sugarcane bagasse over a period of 12 months. In the case of soy, there was a 36% increase in 90 days, while the saccharification of braquiaria grass rose 21% in 40 days.<\/p>\n

This was due to spreading natural composts around the plants \u2013 one of which was based on Cinnamic Acid (MDCA); another, on pipecolinic acid (PIP); and a third that has daidzein (DZN). \u201cWe developed three different composts, each one having specific characteristics, which were applied individually to the sugarcane, soy, and brachiaria,\u201d explains biologist Wanderley Dantas do Santos, Bioplan-UEM Coordinator.<\/p>\n

According Santos, MCDA, PIP, and DZN are modulators of lignin, a molecule that sustains the rigidity of the plant\u2019s cell walls. \u201cGenerally speaking, the composts that we develop alter the metabolism of lignin. This facilitates access to the cell wall of the plant, which is where the cellulose is located. Thus it is possible to produce more sugar, more carbohydrates.\u201d<\/p>\n

The experiment, funded by the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) of Bioethanol, is reported in the article\u00a0Natural Lignin modulators improve lignocellulose saccharification of field-grown sugarcane, soybean and brachiaria<\/em><\/a>. The article, of which Souza is the lead author, was recently published in the journal\u00a0Biomass and Bioenergy<\/em>. The project is backed by the Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI), which is sponsored by the S\u00e3o Paulo State Research Fund (FAPESP) in a partnership with Shell of Brazil.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Increased production \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>In the case of sugarcane, this discovery could contribute to increasing the volume and lessening the cost of producing so-called second-generation ethanol, made from the plant\u2019s biomass residue (bagasse). The big producer of this type of alcohol, corresponding to 1.5% of the nation\u2019s production, is Ra\u00edzen, a joint venture between Cosan and Shell of Brazil, located in outstate S\u00e3o Paulo. \u201cOur plan is to generate a type of sugar cane that can be more easily saccharified, that is, to extract the sugars from the celluloses,\u201d says Santos, who is a visiting professor at the RCGI.<\/p>\n

According to botanist Marcos Buckeridge, Coordinator of LAFIECO-USP and of Bioethanol\u2019s INCT, the industry currently has a high financial output for performing the so-called pre-treatment, when the lignin is removed in order to make the carbohydrates accessible to the enzymes that will then digest those polysaccharides and thus produce sugars that can be fermented to produce second-generation ethanol. \u201cThis has a 30% impact on production cost,\u201d states Buckeridge, who is one of the world\u2019s greatest specialists in second-generation alcohol and an RCGI researcher.<\/p>\n

By applying the composts developed by the researchers, it would be possible to make better use of sugarcane biomass. \u201cWith lignin modulation, the bagasse becomes more easily digested by the enzymes. That is, it will be necessary to use less enzymes during the process. The enzymes are the most expensive part of the production of second-generation ethanol,\u201d Buckeridge adds. Today, a good part of this bagasse is discarded by the industry. \u201cThe use of bagasse could increase ethanol production in Brazil by up to 40%.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeding cattle \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>The researchers also tested the composts on the brachiaria used to feed cattle. \u201cDuring digestion, the animal is able to extract more carbohydrates from this grass,\u201d said Santos. \u201cSince the herd will receive nutrition with a smaller quantity of the grass, it will be possible to have more cattle per square meter. For example, this would help avoid deforestation to produce animal protein.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soy with modulated lignin could also serve as feed for the herd. \u201cToday, cattle are accustomed to being fed with corn and a protein complement. Soy could partially substitute this protein complement. By using composts, it becomes more palatable, in nutritional terms, and would leave the animal satisfied with a smaller portion of food,\u201d says Santos.<\/p>\n

Long-term research \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Santos says that the article published in the journal\u00a0Biomass and Bioenergy<\/em>\u00a0is the result of more than a decade of research. It all began during the post-doctoral stage of Plant Biochemicals and Ecophysiology which he wrote at USP, under Buckeridge\u2019s supervision, between 2006 and 2009. Besides the two researchers, there were also undergraduate, Master\u2019s, and PhD students of the UEM and USP, under the supervision of Santos and Buckeridge, who also worked on writing the article. \u201cIt is a team achievement,\u201d states Santos.<\/p>\n

In 2018, the three composts developed by the researchers were granted a patent. That brought about the creation of two startups headed by UEM students: Power Growth and Bio-solutions. Both have been mentioned in publications such as\u00a0Catalisa<\/em>, of the Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Businesses (SEBRAE) of the State of Paran\u00e1, and AWC, by the TIM service provider at the national level. \u201cThe idea is to develop a product based on one of these composts,\u201d Santos explains.<\/p>\n

But the research is still ongoing. With funding by the RCGI, the group is now developing a project for the purpose of testing the efficacy of the technology at Ra\u00edzen, headquartered in Campinas. Furthermore, the researchers are developing a cocktail of Brazilian enzymes and fungi to be used in producing second-generation ethanol, so as to no longer depend on the European company that monopolizes the technology worldwide. \u201cAbout 30% of the cost of second-generation ethanol is related to the purchase of these enzymes,\u201d Buckeridge explains.<\/p>\n

No side effects \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>According to Santos, none of the three modulators causes side effects for the plant. \u201cWe were able to arrive at a dosage that brings about saccharification without jeopardizing the growth of the plant,\u201d states the researcher. Neither do the composts jeopardize other living beings. \u201cThese molecules contain only carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Therefore, they easily deteriorate in the environment. In this case, the plant itself destroys the molecules by converting them into water and carbon dioxide (CO2<\/sub>). The composts do not leave residues that would later affect animals and human beings.\u201d<\/p>\n

The researchers also utilized so-called physiological engineering to induce the production of lignin. In a partnership with a large fertilizer industry in the State of Paran\u00e1, the group was able to show that soy plants treated with this type of compost present from 30% to 40% more lignin in their leaves, stems, pods, and grain. In this case, three types of composts were used to induce lignin. \u201cFor example, this protects the grain from mechanical damage that occurs during harvesting, transporting, and storage,\u201d says Santos.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, they also successfully obtained the use of physiological engineering to accelerate the production of saplings for urban tree planting, reforestation, and the recovery of degraded pastures. \u201cThe possibilities are countless and promising. Physiological engineering is a technology based on strategies used by plants themselves in nature. It opens up a whole new field of research and applications that, together with genetic improvement and genetic engineering, is only beginning to show its potential for contributing to the advancement of agriculture and agribusiness in Brazil,\u201d Santos added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Physiological engineering project, supported by the RCGI, also benefits cattle feeding among livestock Researchers in the Plant Biochemical Laboratory of the State University of Maring\u00e1 (Bioplan-UEM) and the Ecological Physiology … <\/p>\n

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