Sirlene Maria da Costa

Ceriporiopsis subvermispora used in delignification of sugarcane bagasse prior to soda/anthraquinone pulping.

Sugarcane bagasse was pretreated with the white-rot fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora for 30 d of incubation. The solid-state fermentation of 800 g of bagasse was carried out in 20-L bioreactors with an inoculum charge of 250 mg of fungal mycelium/kg of bagasse. The oxidative enzymes manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP), and laccase (Lac) and the hydrolytic enzyme xylanase (Xyl) were measured by standard methods and related to the funguss potential for delignification. Among the lignocellulolytic assayed enzymes, Xyl was detected in larger quantity (4478 IU/kg), followed by MnP (236 IU/kg). LiP and Lac were not detected. The results of chemical analysis and mass component loss showed that C. subvermispora was selective to lignin degradation. Pretreated sugarcane bagasse and control pulps were obtained by soda/anthraquinone (AQ) pulping. Pulp yields, kappa number, and viscosity of all pulps were determined by chemical analysis of the samples. Yields of soda/AQ ranged from 46 to 54%, kappa numbers were 15-25, and the viscosity ranged from 3.6 to 7 cP for pulps obtained from pretreated sugarcane bagasse.

Integrated processes for use of pulps and lignins obtained from sugarcane bagasse and straw: a review of recent efforts in Brazil.

Sugarcane bagasse and straw can be converted into pulps, oils, controlled-release formulations, chelating agents, and composites. This article reviews bagasse and straw conversion efforts in Brazil. Laboratory-scale processes were developed aiming at the integral use of these biomass byproducts. Organosolv pulping and oxidation of lignin are the most promising processes for the rational use of sugarcane residues. Fungal pretreatment and spectroscopic characterization are also discussed.

Integrated Processes for Use of Pulps and Lignins Obtained from Sugarcane Bagasse and Straw

Sugarcane bagasse and straw can be converted into pulps, oils, controlled-release formulations, chelating agents, and composites. This article reviews bagasse and straw conversion efforts in Brazil. Laboratory-scale processes were developed aiming at the integral use of these biomass byproducts. Organosolv pulping and oxidation of lignin are the most promising processes for the rational use of sugarcane residues. Fungal pretreatment and spectroscopic characterization are also discussed.

Action of white-rot fungus Panus tigrinus on sugarcane bagasse: evaluation of selectivity.

Biological pretreatments with three selected strains of Panus tigrinus were used for delignification of sugarcane bagasse. The fungi with potential for delignification were analyzed by determining the chemical composition of the decayed bagasse samples, and the selectivity in terms of weight loss of the different components was evaluated. All the strains grow abundantly on bagasse as unique carbon source. After determining the chemical composition of degraded bagasse, P. tigrinus FTPT-4745 was selected as the most efficient strain on a 6-g scale, since the carbohydrates were preserved. P. tigrinus FTPT-4741 and FTPT-4742 were the most efficient strains on a large scale (100 g).

Panus tigrinus strains used in delignification of sugarcane bagasse prior to kraft pulping.

Three strains of the white-rot fungus Panus tigrinus (FTPT-4741, FTPT-4742, and FTPT-4745) were cultivated on sugarcane bagasse prior to kraft pulping. Pulp yields, kappa number, and viscosity of all pulps were determined and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra from the samples were recorded. The growth of P. tigrinus strains in plastic bags increased the manganese peroxide and xylanase activities. Lignin peroxidase was not detected in the three systems (shaken and nonshaken flasks and plastic bags). FTIR spectra were reduced to their principal components, and a clear separation between FTPT-4742 and the control was observed. Strain FTPT-4745 decayed lignin more selectively in the three systems utilized. Yields of kraft pulping were low, ranging from 20 to 45% for the plastic bag samples and from 12 to 38% for the flask samples. Kappa numbers were 1-18 and viscosity ranged from 2.3 to 6.8 cP.

Biophysical and biological characterization of intraoral multilayer membranes as potential carriers: A new drug delivery system for dentistry

The current study developed through layer-by-layer deposition a multilayer membrane for intraoral drug delivery and analyzed the biochemical, functional, and biological properties of this membrane. For that purpose, we designed a three-layer chlorhexidine-incorporated membrane composed by pure chitosan and alginate. The biochemical, functional, and biological properties were analyzed by the following tests: degradation in saliva medium; controlled drug release; water absorption, mass loss; pH analysis; and biocompatibility through fibroblast cell viability by MTT assay. All tests were conducted at three different periods (24, 48 and 72hours). The results demonstrated that hybrid membranes composed by alginate and chitosan with glycerol had greater water absorption and mass loss in buffer solution and in artificial saliva. The controlled drug release test revealed that the hybrid membrane exhibited greater drug release (0.075%). All chlorhexidine-incorporated membranes reduced the cell viability, and chitosan membranes with and without glycerol did not interfere with fibroblast viability. The biochemical and biophysical characteristics of the designed membranes and the findings of cell viability tests indicate great potential for application in Dentistry.

Polypropylene Composites Reinforced with Biodegraded Sugarcane Bagasse Fibers: Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties

The present work aimed to study sugarcane bagasse fibers pre-treated with fungi and using NaOH/ anthraquinone (AQ) in chemical pulping processes for applications in composite materials. Bagasse was decayed with 250 mg of Ceriporiopsis subvermispora inoculum in a 20 L bioreactor. After that, samples were submitted to similar conditions of decaying without inoculum charge. Decayed and undecayed fibers were treated with NaOH 12.5 wt%, 0.15 of AQ and a 12:1 (v/w) liquor:bagasse ratio at 160°C. Then, all obtained fibers were characterized according to their chemical composition. Dried biotreated (decayed) and control (undecayed) fibers were mixed through an extruder process with polypropylene. Later, composite granulates were injected directly in mold with cavities for tensile, flexural and shear tests. Composite materials with 10 and 20 wt% fibers were submitted to static mechanical standard tests and DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis) to evaluate the effect of biotreatment. Biotreatment, cook time (pulping), and fiber content contributed to improvements in the mechanical properties of the composites. The interface between fiber and matrix was increased with the biotreatment and pulping of fibers. Furthermore, DMA results also showed that fiber incorporation into PP improved the modulus, mainly for biotreated fibers/PP composites. The Tg (tan δ data) from composites was dislocated at lower temperatures with respect to neat PP due to the influence of fibers on matrix.