Caraterização físico-química de vinhaça de etanol de milho e revisão bibliográfica do seu potencial uso como substrato na produção de poli(3-hidroxibutirato) por Bacillus megaterium

Abstract

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate is a biopolymer from the class of polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesized by microorganisms. They have several biomedical and pharmaceutical applications and as a replacement for petrochemical plastics due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability characteristics. Its synthesis by Bacillus megaterium demands a carbon source from natural raw materials, which makes the process expensive. On the other hand, Brazil has a large residual production of vinasse obtained from the process of alcoholic fermentation of corn ethanol. In this work, the physicochemical characterization of a vinasse supplied by the corn ethanol plant Safras in Mato Grosso was carried out. Through a literature review of obtaining poly 3 hydroxybutyrate synthesized by B. megaterium, we sought to theoretically analyze the feasibility of using this residue as the main source of carbon and it was concluded that it is suitable for the process because it is a source rich in carbon. carbon, which is the limiting nutrient in the process. Due to its characteristics and its abundant availability in Brazil, vinasse becomes a potential substrate for the production of microbial biopolymers, reducing the costs of this production. This process becomes environmentally advantageous because, in addition to disposing of vinasse, it also minimizes the production costs of P(3HB).