Strategy for biological co-production of levulinic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates by using mixed microbial cultures fed with synthetic hemicellulose hydrolysate.

Hemicellulose hydrolysates (HH), which could be an interesting carbon source to feed mixed microbial cultures (MMC) able to accumulate high value-added compounds. This research focused on the evaluation of a culture strategy to achieve the simultaneous biological production of Levulinic Acid (LA) and Polyhydroxyalcanoates (PHA) by MMC fed with a synthetic HH (SHH). The culture strategy involves the use of sequential batch reactors (SBR) to select microorganisms capable of producing LA and PHA. This work proved that the cultivation strategy used allowed the biological production of LA, reaching 37%w/w when the SHH was composed of 85% pentoses. In addition, the simultaneous biological production of LA and PHB was possible when the SHH was enriched with acetate (45% pentoses - 50% acetate). Finally, this study showed that the composition of the SHH impacts directly on the selected microorganism genus and the type and quantity of the value-added compounds obtained.

Influence of initial chemical composition and characteristics of pulps on the production and properties of lignocellulosic nanofibers.

This work aimed to study the influence of the initial chemical composition (glucans, lignin, xylan, and mannans), intrinsic viscosity, and carboxylate groups of pulps on the production process and final properties of lignocellulosic nanofibers (LCNF). Pulps of pine sawdust, eucalyptus sawdust, and sugarcane bagasse subjected to conventional pulping and highly oxidized processes were the starting materials. The LCNF were obtained by TEMPO mediated oxidation and mechanical fibrillation with a colloidal grinder. The nanofibrillation degree, chemical charge content, rheology, laser profilometry, cristallinity and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the LCNF. The carboxylate groups, hemicelluloses and lignin of the initial pulps were important factors that affected the production process of LCNF. The results revealed that intrinsic viscosity and carboxylate groups of the initial pulps affected LCNF production process, whereas lignin and hemicelluloses influenced the viscosity of LCNF aqueous suspensions, the roughness of LCNF films, and the carboxylate groups content of LCNF.

The influence of pulping and washing conditions on the properties of Eucalyptus grandis unbleached kraft pulps treated with chelants.

The influence of different addition points of a chelating agent and a counter-ion exchange on the properties of Eucalyptus grandis unbleached kraft pulps is studied. Seven pulps were considered: two laboratory kraft pulps with or without the inclusion of the chelant DTPMPA (diethylene triamine penta (methylene phosphonic acid)), a mill kraft pulp and four mill pulps after Ca(+2) or Na(+) counter-ion exchange followed, or not, by washing with DTPMPA addition. The laboratory pulps required lower beating energy than the industrial pulps for achieving 30 degrees SR, and the corresponding handsheets also showed better strength and optical properties, as well as a more homogeneous and smooth surface. The counter-ion exchange decreases the mechanical resistances and increases brightness. However, the effects of Ca(+2) are deeper than those of Na(+). DTPMPA added to pulping causes a decrease in calcium content whereas as a washing additive does not have a relevant impact on the mechanical and optical properties.