Project
Title
Sugarcane biorefinery: bioconversion of bagasse into lactic acid and poly-lactate
(Zuckerrohr-Bioraffinerie: Biokonversion von Bagasse in Milchsäure und Polylactat)
Acronym
Sugarcane biorefinery
Start
01.05.2012
End
31.12.2014
Coordinating Institute
Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB)
Coordinator
Partner
Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Universität Potsdam
Universidade Estadual Paulista
Summary
The R & D collaboration with Brazilian partners aims at resource-saving processes and at the production of bio-based materials for a sustainable bio-economy. The aim is to develop environmentally friendly processes for the utilization of agro-industrial wastes and by-products such as lignocellulosic residues of sugar cane industry. Research in the project focuses on methods to make carbohydrates (sugars) available for subsequent fermentation.
Experimental work is carried out both in Brazil and in Germany. Tasks include enzymatic pretreatment, provision of sugars and laboratory tests for lactic acid fermentation in Brazil, and the parallel testing of bacteria already proven for other substrates as well as a scale-up of processes to pilot scale in Germany. Results will indicate whether the used plant raw materials are suitable for the subsequent implementation of biotechnology to non-food products such as bioplastics. The results should help to accelerate the development of knowledge-based bio-industries and to significantly enhance the use of renewable raw materials in the chemical industry.
Funding
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Grant agreement number
01DN120S3
Funding framework
Internationale Zusammenarbeit in Bildung und Forschung mit Brasilien.