UB - Posters
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- A novel bench-scale photobioreactor for continuous cultivation of microalgae [Poster]Publication . Silva, Tiago; Tavares, João; Paixão, Susana M.; Alves, LuísABSTRACT: There are different types of carbon intensive industries. While some operate with daily intervals, others must be maintained in continuous operation, sometimes for weeks or months. Processes that depend on microbiological activity are usually of the second category, resulting in the continuous production of CO2 during extensive periods of time. In order to help mitigate climate change, alternative methods of carbon capture into added-value products have been the focus of research. Autotrophic microalgae cultures can be employed to sequester the carbon present in these streams, generating new products, while increasing process sustainability. However, to sequester these emissions microalgal bioreactors must also function under continuous constant conditions, requiring photobioreactors (PBRs) that can act as chemostats for long periods of time. Moreover, there is currently a lack of studies and design alternatives using microalgal chemostats. Most works tend to focus on batch assays or semi-continuous processes, presenting different responses depending on the growth stage of the culture, or the time of day. The present work is centred on the development of a novel continuous bench-scale PBR. This system uses an innovative recirculation concept to combine three different units (retention vessel, photocollector and degasser) that operate as a single autotrophic chemostat, allowing the study of carbon sequestration from a biogenic CO2-rich constant air stream. The novel PBR was tested by cultivating the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis at different dilution rates (0.1-0.5 d-1), while using as sole carbon source an air stream containing ≈0.35 vol% of CO2 (produced by a coupled heterotrophic bacterial chemostat). The results obtained revealed that the system could operate as a chemostat, allowing the production of stable cultures with proportional responses to the changes in dilution rates for more than 3 months, reaching a maximum biomass productivity of 183 mg/L/d, with a carbon fixation efficiency of ≈39% at 0.3 d-1. This makes the PBR prototype a promising tool to study/optimise integrated heterotrophic and autotrophic continuous processes, or constant sequestration of stable CO2-rich streams, making it easier to gather data for future scale-up.
- Efficient conversion of agricultural and forest residues into bioethanol: BIOFLEXPOR as flexible technology towards sugar-based biorefineries [Poster]Publication . Marques, Susana; Paixão, Susana M.; Alves, Luís; Gomes, Miguel; Eusebio, Ana; Lopes, Tiago; Coelho, Lucas; Diebold, Eduardo; Gírio, FranciscoABSTRACT: Lignocellulosic ethanol is in the upfront of advanced biofuels to be commercialized worldwide. However, the commercial deployment of 2G ethanol is dependent of high biomass availability and cost-effective supply. In Europe, some agricultural residues are presently underused and constitute attractive renewable resources. In addition, residual forest biomass, non-seasonably available at low cost, might be complementarily used as raw material boosting the economy of biorefineries. In this context, the present work deals with the development of an innovative and sustainable technological strategy to produce advanced bioethanol using agricultural and forestry residual biomass. The bioprocess involves enzymatic hydrolysis of major lignocellulose polysaccharides (cellulose and xylan) with commercial enzymes and fermentation of the resulting sugars. A pre-treatment step should firstly be accomplished to make cellulose more amenable to hydrolytic enzymes, and the prototype is based on a proprietary non-catalysed steam explosion technology, i.e., without the addition of acids and using only high-pressure steam, called FLEXBIO™, which was initially developed in Brazil by the company STEX and since 2019 in partnership with LNEG. The proposed technology has been successfully demonstrated in a relevant environment (TRL 5) for the efficient conversion of corn stover, olive tree pruning and eucalyptus-based forest residual biomass, yielding close to 150 L of ethanol per metric tonne (dry basis) of biomass, corresponding to an overall yield close to 75% of maximal theoretical yield for glucan conversion. Both enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation steps have achieved yields superior to 85% of the maximal theoretical conversion, and the optimization of process configuration, targeting the best integration with pre-treatment, is now under progress and higher yields will be expected. Given the higher xylan content of corn stover, both cellulose and xylan fractions are pursued. In addition, the upgrading potential of all wastewater streams will also be assessed, by studying the feasibility of its combined use to increase the ethanol yield as alternative to its use for biogas production through anaerobic digestion, with the goal to reach near-zero waste. In conclusion, the present study reveals the industrial potential of this flexible technology that might be applied to implement distinct small-scale sugar-based biorefineries by converting several lignocellulosic raw materials into distinct marketable biofuels/biomaterials, promoting the circular bioeconomy.
- BIOFLEXPOR Technology towards 2G Bioethanol Biorefineries [Poster]Publication . Marques, Susana; Lopes, Tiago; Paixão, Susana M.; Alves, Luís; Carvalheiro, Florbela; Coelho, Lucas; Diebold, Eduardo; Gírio, FranciscoABSTRACT: By 2030, decarbonizing the transport sector will become mandatory requiring the introduction of advanced biofuels into the market, with minimum targets of 1% in 2025 and 3.5% in 2030 in accordance with the RED II Directive. To avoid future biofuels imports, it is essential that an industrial cluster emerges in Portugal with the capacity to produce advanced biofuels, such as 2G Bioethanol. In this context, the team from Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit (UBB) of LNEG (Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia) has been actively working on the development of an innovative and fully integrated technological strategy to produce advanced bioethanol using agricultural and forestry residual biomass as sustainable feedstock. The target is the demonstration, at relevant environment, all stages of the production technology, enabling the direct obtention of a biofuel that complies with EN standards, allowing its immediate blending with other fuels, such as gasoline. The prototype is based on a proprietary non-catalyzed steam explosion technology, i.e., without the addition of acids and using only high-pressure steam, called FLEXBIO™, initially developed by the company Stex and since 2019 in partnership with LNEG. The LNEG team has also been conducting R&D aiming at the development of new yeasts and enzymes that enhance the conversion of both cellulosic and hemicellulosic fractions of biomass. All technology will be environmentally sustainable, in terms of GHG emissions and waste production, promoting the circular bioeconomy. This innovative technology for a 2G bioethanol biorefinery, enabling to obtain a biofuel with high energy quality and sustainable origin from different types of biomasses, has been demonstrated in a relevant environment (TRL 5) in a prototype simulating (at scale 1:15) the commercial installation, under the BIOFLEXPOR project. The consortium is led by the company Prio Bio, S.A., the largest producer of biofuels in Portugal, and includes, in addition to LNEG, I.P., teams from CBE (Centro de Biomassa para a Energia) and Florecha – Forest Solutions, S.A. (Forest Solutions). The technology - under optimization but already demonstrated for the conversion of corn stover, olive tree pruning and eucalyptus-based forest residual biomass, yielding close to 150 L Ethanol /ton biomass (oven-dried weight) - will respond to a lack of economically viable technical solutions for small-scale biorefineries that process 200-700 tons/day of biomass, corresponding to a nominal bioethanol production capacity of 10,000-30,000 ton/year. It may therefore be close to a commercial application, which will be of strategic importance for the BIOFLEXPOR consortium, and for the LNEG team.
- GIS-Based Model to Identify Marginal Soils for Bioenergy Production [Poster]Publication . Abreu, Mariana; Reis, Alberto; Fernando, Ana Luisa; Quental, Lídia; Patinha, Pedro; Gírio, Francisco
- A biorefinery approach for the simultaneous production of biofuels and bioplastics [Poster]Publication . Ortigueira, Joana; Leite, T.; Pereira, J.; Serafim, L.S.; Silva, Carla; Moura, Patrícia; Lemos, Paulo Costa
- Analytical protocol for the characterization of solid organic fractions: contribution for the biochemical and thermochemical potential assessment of biomass [Poster]Publication . Trancoso, Maria Ascensão; Crujeira, Teresa; Sousa, R.; Calisto, Sandra C.; Branco, J.; Oliveira, Ana Cristina; Passarinho, Paula; Abreu, Mariana; Moura, Patrícia; Gírio, FranciscoABSTRACT: In the scope of the CONVERTE project an optimised and uniformed methodology was developed in order to better evaluate the use of endogenous biomasses for energy production by biochemical or thermochemical processes. A protocol for preparation and characterization was designed and validated by the use of biomass certified reference materials and quality control actions. Extensive analytical work was performed and the results were summarized in accordance with their relevance for either biochemical or thermochemical processes.
- Surface response methodology towards optimal carotenoids production by Gordonia Alkanivorans Strain 1B [Poster]Publication . Paixão, Susana M.; Silva, Tiago; Fernandes, A. S.; Roseiro, J. Carlos; Alves, LuísABSTRACT: The process of obtaining carotenoids, mainly towards sectors that may influence the human health, such as pharmaceutical and cosmetic, is strictly regulated because of the potential toxicity of the synthetically derived pigments. Thus, microbial pigments are in increasing demand since they are a promising natural and safe alternative source for various industrial applications. Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B is a fructophilic desulfurizing bacterium, which was also shown to be a good producer of carotenoids. However, its production abilities presented a great variation, depending on the conditions it was submitted to. In previous works, both the carbon source and sulfur source, demonstrated a great influence in the total carotenoid concentration, especially when combined with the presence of a light source. So, in this study, a surface response methodology based on the Doehlert distribution for two factors (% of glucose in a mix glucose + fructose (10 g/L total sugars), and sulfate concentration) was used aiming to get the optimal carotenoids production by G. alkanivorans strain 1B.
- Fermentation of xylose-rich substrates by the haloarchaeon halorhabdus utahensis towards high value-added bioproducts [Poster]Publication . Alves, Luís; Paixão, Susana M.; Silva, Tiago; Squillaci, G.; Serino, I.; Morana, A.ABSTRACT: Research that focuses on the use of high value-added bioproducts for industrial applications is essential for the implementation of sustainable approaches forecasting a bio-based economy. The effective use of biomass feedstocks, particularly lignocellulosic materials, in large-scale applications will evolve from innovative research aimed at the development and implementation of biorefineries established for specific feedstocks. In this context, an important step is the concept of fractionating biomass into its core constituents (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) for further enhanced valorization. Contrary to the valorization of cellulose fraction, which has been extensively studied, there is a gap in the valorization of the hemicellulose fraction (xylose- rich substrate) towards bioproducts. In this context, the present work aims to explore the ability of the haloarchaeon Halorhabdus utahensis (DSM-12940) to ferment xylose (or xylose-rich substrates) to high added-value bioproducts, such as pigments, exopolysaccharides (EPS) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).
- Production of carotenoids and biosurfactants by Gordonia Alkanivorans Strain 1B using food residues and derivatives [Poster]Publication . Silva, Tiago; Paixão, Susana M.; Alves, LuísABSTRACT: Through different bioprocesses, microorganisms, such as yeasts and bacteria, ferment and transform residue streams into high added value products, such as carotenoids and biosurfactants. Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B is one of such bacteria, capable of consuming and transforming many types of residues. It is mostly known for its biodesulfurizing ability and it was recently described as a producer of both carotenoids and biosurfactants. In previous works, strain 1B has been cultivated on different sugar rich alternative carbon sources. However, it was shown, that in order to promote surfactant production, the microorganisms should be exposed to inducing factors, such as lipids and alcohols. This work focusses on valorisation of residues from the restaurant and food industry, and derivatives from their processing, by using them as carbon sources to grow the bacterium and produce carotenoids and surfactants.
- Valorization of chestnut manufacture process residues [Poster]Publication . Morana, A.; Laratta, B.; Vella, F. M.; Santos, Carla A.; Del Monaco, G.; La Cara, F.; Marques, Isabel Paula
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