Anuj Kumar.

The overall goal of the project is to produce catalytic inks and printed electrodes using lignin-derived biochars for enhancing efficiency of catalytic reactions. Research objectives of the EEL group will be efficient extraction and recovery of high purity lignin (kraft lignin) and C6 sugars from sugarcane biomass (bagasse and straw). The C6 sugar from the hydrolysate will be transformed into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) which will be catalytically transformed into furan di-carboxylic acid (FDCA). Research objectives of the catalytic group of the Japan group will include production of biochars from the extracted lignin, and its integration into catalytic ink production. The ink will be used to make printed electrodes. The ink-jet technology will be used to print electrodes. The electrodes will be tested for their catalytic activity towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), and in electrochemical oxidation of 5-HMF to furan di-carboxylic acid (FDCA). Potential scientific impact of the research project will include 1) new technology to extract high purity lignin from sugarcane biomass; 2) molecular level characterization of derived lignins; 3) biochar production techniques; 4) production of catalyst ink and printed electrodes showing activity towards OER, ORR and FDCA. If the lignin-derived biochars will have good performance as catalytic inks, it will open a market for lingo-carbon which can find application in battery and chemical industry that deliver clean energy and value-added chemicals. Efficient utilization of lignin will contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by making use of carbon-rich natural resources. (AU)

A lignina é o principal subproduto da indústria de celulose e papel (fábricas de polpa e celulose kraft). Os híbridos de Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla são usados principalmente na fabricação de painéis de fibras, celulose e papel no Brasil. Para a produção de celulose kraft, a madeira do eucalipto é aquecida em meio alcalino para solubilizar a lignina. A lignina solubilizada, também conhecida como licor negro, é concentrada e queimada para produzir energia na caldeira de recuperação. Assim, a celulose é separada e após várias etapas de processamento é usada para fazer papel. Suzano S/A e Klabin S/A são as duas maiores empresas de celulose e papel no Brasil, produzindo uma grande quantidade de lignina para energia e produtos comerciais de alto valor. Aproximadamente 55 milhões de toneladas de lignina são produzidas pela indústria de celulose. Atualmente, as fábricas de celulose modernas geram suas demandas de energia térmica e vendem o excesso de energia como eletricidade pela queima de lignina. No entanto, a lignina pode ser amplamente aplicada em diferentes áreas, como fibras de carbono, carvão ativado, adesivos, resinas e outros. Neste projeto, a lignina da indústria de celulose será utilizada como fonte de carbono e energia durante o cultivo bacteriano de forma sustentável. Além disso, a plataforma de descoberta metagenômica será estabelecida a partir de protocolos de enriquecimento da comunidade de fábricas de celulose, para representar biocatalisadores bacterianos e vias envolvidas na degradação de lignina e conversão de compostos aromáticos. Eventualmente, com o objetivo de comprovar a aplicação da estratégia metagenômica, biotransformação dos componentes da lignina kraft em produtos sustentáveis de relevância industrial como o polihidroxialcanoato (PHA), biolipídios e biogás. Os genes obtidos após o sequenciamento metagenômico serão sintetizados, clonados e expressos em Escherichia coli e Yarrowia lipolytica para produção de PHA e biolipídios, respectivamente. A produção de biogás será avaliada a partir de lignina kraft usando inóculo de água de esgoto. Além disso, o consórcio microbiano enriquecido desenvolvido será testado para a biodegradação de filmes de polietileno de baixa densidade em monômeros mais simples. O perfil de degradação da lignina será avaliado por cromatografia de permeação em gel (GPC), cromatografia líquida dupla a espectrofotometria de massa (LC-MS), análise termogravimétrica (TGA), FTIR, NIR, RMN, Raman (espectroscopia), emissão de campo SEM, AFM e, XRD. Uma análise técnico-econômica sistemática será realizada para determinar a viabilidade técnica e econômica do processo em escala comercial de recuperação, purificação e bioconversão de lignina. (AU)

Lignin is the primary by-product of pulp and paper industry (kraft pulp mills). Hybrids of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla are mainly used to make fiberboards, pulp, and papermaking industries in Brazil. For kraft pulp production, Eucalyptus wood is heated in an alkaline medium to solubilize the lignin. Solubilized lignin which is also known as black liquor, is concentrated and burnt to produce energy in the recovery boiler. Thus, cellulose is separated and after various processing steps is used for making paper. Suzano S/A and Klabin S/A are the two major pulp and paper companies in Brazil, producing a large amount of lignin for energy and high value-based commercial products. Approximately, 55 million tons of lignin are produced by the pulp industry. Currently, modern pulp mills generate their thermal energy demands and sell excess energy as electricity by burning lignin. However, lignin could be vastly applied for the different range of applications such as carbon fibers, activated carbon, adhesives, resins, and others. In this project, lignin from pulp industry will be used as a carbon and energy source during bacterial cultivation in a sustainable manner. Additionally, metagenomic discovery platform will be established from pulp mills community enrichment protocols, to depict bacterial biocatalysts and pathways involved in lignin degradation and aromatic compound conversion. Eventually, in order to prove the application of the metagenomic strategy, biotransformation of kraft lignin components into sustainable products of industrially relevance from such as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), biolipids and biogas. The genes obtained after metagenomic sequencing will be synthesized, cloned and expressed into Escherichia coli and Yarrowia lipolytica for PHA and biolipids production, respectively. Biogas production will be assessed from kraft lignin using sewage water inoculum. Further, the enriched microbial consortium developed will be tested for the biodegradation of low-density polyethylene films into simpler monomers. The lignin degradation profile will be evaluated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Liquid chromatography couple to mass spectrophotometry (LC-MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR, NIR, NMR, Raman (spectroscopy), field emission SEM, AFM and, XRD. A systematic techno-economic analysis will be performed to determine the technical and economic viability for commercial-scale process of lignin recovery, purification and bioconversion. (AU)

Installation, fabrication and commissioning of Pilot production facility for industrial enzymes under USFDA compliance.

Project Was Financially supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) , Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India to convert weedy materials ( Prosopis juliflora , Lantana camara ) into fuel ethanol.

conversion of apple pomace and sugarcane molasses into citric acid by naturally isolated microorganism -Aspergilus sp.