Brachiaria brizantha Grass as a Feedstock for Ethanol Production

HIGHLIGHTS Brachiaria brizantha proved to be a promising biomass for ethanol production. Fermentation was not impaired by the inhibitors furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural.

Abstract Different lignocellulosic biomasses are found worldwide and each country has its own important industrial crop that can be converted into high-value products, such as ethanol. Therefore, evaluation of new biomasses to be used in biorefineries is important to decrease the dependence on non-renewable resources and to guarantee sustainable development. This work evaluated Brachiaria brizantha, a grass commonly used as animal forage, and the standard biomass for 2G-ethanol, sugarcane bagasse. The chemical compositions of both biomasses were determined and different times and temperature of acid pretreatment were tested. Morphological analysis via scanning electron microscopy showed more deconstructed fibers after harsher biomass pretreatments. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of pretreated Brachiaria brizantha presented higher efficiency than when using sugarcane bagasse as the carbon source. A biomass conversion of 46 % was achieved when Brachiaria brizantha grass was pretreated with 2% sulfuric acid for 60 minutes. Moreover, fermentation was not impaired by the inhibitors furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural. It was concluded that Brachiaria brizantha is a promising biomass for ethanol production.

Hydrothermal Pretreatment as a Strategy for the Improvement of Sugarcane Bagasse Saccharification by Fungal Enzyme Blend

Abstract Obtaining low cost lignocellulolytic enzymes and efficient biomass pretreatment are key to increase the competitiveness of second-generation ethanol in comparison with fossil fuels. The enzymatic cocktail produced by the Chrysoporthe cubensis fungus as well as the mixture prepared with the cocktails of the Chrysoporthe cubensis and Penicillium pinophilum fungi have already proven to be efficient for hydrolyzing biomass pretreated with alkali. In this study, they were evaluated in saccharification of sugarcane bagasse pretreated with dilute acid or hot water at 121°C using an enzyme loading equal to 8 filter paper units per gram of biomass. The most promising results were obtained from the hydrolysis of biomass pretreated with hot water by the C. cubensis-P. pinophilum enzymes blend. In this condition, the glucose and xylose production were 25.2 g.L-1 and 4.6 g.L-1, respectively, that resulted in the conversion of 68% of glucan and 23% of xylan in only 48 hours. This study shows that the hydrothermal pretreatment is a promising alternative to improve the enzymes performance, produced by the fungi C. cubensis and P. pinophilum, in the sugarcane bagasse hydrolysis without the need of chemical compounds, generally used in the acid and alkali pretreatments. Furthermore, the hydrothermal pretreatment for 60 min allowed all cocktails applied to convert the cellulose efficiently with only 24 h of saccharification, which contributes to the energy savings employed in the process.

Avaliação da concentração de proteínas e da atividade de α-galactosidases nos cotilédones e no eixo embrionário de sementes de Dalbergia nigra durante a germinação / Proteins and activity of α-galactosidases determination in cotyledons and embryonic axis of Dalbergia nigra seeds during germination

Este trabalho teve como objetivos a quantificação de proteínas e da atividade da enzima α-galactosidase, no eixo embrionário e nos cotilédones, de sementes de Dalbergia nigra (jacarandá-da-bahia) durante a germinação. As sementes foram colocadas para embeber em água por sete dias, sendo retiradas amostras para a avaliação bioquímica e cinética da enzima. A atividade da enzima α-galactosidase aumenta com a embebição das sementes nos dois compartimentos, embora não esteja presente no eixo embrionário de sementes secas. A diferença na atividade da enzima entre os cotilédones e o eixo embrionário foi significativa. O pH 5,5 foi o de máxima atividade para as enzimas de ambos os compartimentos. A temperatura que mais estimulou a atividade da enzima nos cotilédones foi 50 ºC e de 50 a 60 ºC no eixo embrionário. A atividade da α-galactosidase foi inibida por ß-mercaptoetanol e cobre, em ambos os compartimentos, enquanto a lactose e o cloreto de sódio estimularam a atividade tanto nos cotilédones como no eixo embrionário. Os valores de K M para enzimas do eixo embrionário e dos cotilédones foram de 0,239 e 0,228 mM, respectivamente.

This work aimed to quantify the protein content and the α-galactosidase activity in the embryonic axis and in the cotyledons of Dalbergia nigra seeds during the imbibition period. The seeds were submitted to water imbibition during seven days. Biochemical and kinetic characterization of the enzyme were done from samples taken during the imbibition period. The activity of the α-galactosidase increased in the two compartments with the soaking of the seeds, although, the enzyme activity was not detected in the embryonic axis of dry seeds. The difference in the activity of the enzyme between cotyledons and embryonic axis was significant. The pH of maximum activity was 5.5 for the enzyme of both compartments. In the cotyledons the higher activity of the enzyme was obtained at 50 ºC. In the embryonic axis the activity was higher at temperatures ranging from 50 to 60 ºC. The activity of the α-galactosidase was inhibited by ß-mercaptoethanol and CuSO4 in both compartments, while lactose and sodium chloride stimulated the activity in the cotyledons and in the embryonic axis. The values of K M for the enzymes of the embryonic axis and cotyledons were respectively 0.239 and 0.228 mM.

Propriedades enzimáticas da enzima ALS de Cyperus difformis e mecanismo de resistência da espécie ao herbicida pyrazosulfuron-ethyl / Enzymatic properties of Cyperus difformis ALS enzyme and mechanism resistance of the species to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl herbicide

Cyperus difformis L. é uma planta daninha ocorrente em lavouras de arroz irrigado, que tem apresentado dificuldade de controle devido à resistência a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar características cinéticas da enzima ALS de biótipos de C. difformis e determinar as bases bioquímicas da resistência da espécie ao herbicida pyrazosulfuron-ethyl. Para isso, foram conduzidos experimentos em laboratório do BIOAGRO/UFV. O método utilizado baseou-se na metologia utilizada por CAREY et al. (1997) e adaptada por VARGAS et al. (1999), com algumas modificações. Foram avaliadas a concentração de substrato (piruvato) que fornece velocidade inicial igual à metade da velocidade máxima de reação (K M) e velocidade máxima de reação (Vmáx), bem como a atividade da enzima ALS na presença do inibidor (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl). Diante dos resultados, pode-se observar que a resistência de C. difformis a pyrazosulfuron-ethyl é decorrente da insensibilidade da enzima ALS ao herbicida, não acarretando, porém, prejuízo aos parâmetros cinéticos K M e Vmáx da enzima ALS.

Cyperus difformis L. is a weed that occurs in flooded rice, which has presented difficulty in controlling due to the resistance to ALS inhibiting herbicides. The objectives of this research were to investigate kinetic characteristics of ALS enzyme from C. difformis biotypes and to determine the biochemical bases of resistance from the species to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl herbicide. For that, experiments were conducted at the BIOAGRO/UFV laboratory. The method used was based on the methodology used by CAREY et al. (1997) and adapted by VARGAS et al. (1999), with some modifications. It was evaluated substratum concentration (pyruvate) that provides initial velocity equal to half the speed reaction (K M) and maximum velocity of reaction (Vmáx), as well the activity of the ALS enzyme in the presence of the inhibitor (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl). According to the results, it is possible to observe that C. difformis resistance to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl is due to the insensibility of the ALS enzyme to the herbicide, however without penalty to K M and Vmáx kinetic parameters of the ALS enzyme.

Hydrolysis of galacto-oligosaccharides in soy molasses by α -galactosidases and invertase from Aspergillus terreus

Two α -galactosidase (P1 and P2) and one invertase present in the culture of Aspergillus terreus grown on wheat straw for 168 h at 28ºC were partially purified by gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies. Optimum pH and temperatures for P1, P2 and invertase preparations were 4.5-5.0, 5.5 and 4.0 and 60, 55 and 65ºC, respectively. The K M app for ρ -nitrophenyl-α -D-galactopyranoside were 1.32 mM and 0.72 mM for P1 and P2, respectively, while the K M app value for invertase, using sacarose as a substrate was 15.66 mM. Enzyme preparations P1 and P2 maintained their activities after pre-incubation for 3 h at 50ºC and invertase maintained about 90 percent after 6 h at 55 ºC. P1 and P2 presented different inhibition sensitivities by Ag+, D-galactose, and SDS. All enzyme preparations hydrolyzed galacto-ologosaccharides present in soymolasses.

Duas α-galactosidases (P1 e P2) e uma invertase produzidas no sobrenadante da cultura do fungo Aspergillus terreus quando crescido por 168 h a 28ºC com farelo de trigo como fonte de carbono foram parcialmente purificadas por cromatografias de gel filtração e interação hidrofóbica. O pH e temperatura ótimos para as preparações P1, P2 e invertase foram entre 4,5-5,0, 5,5 e 4,0 e 60, 55 e 65ºC, respectivamente. O K M app para ρ-nitrofenil-α-D-galactopiranosideo foi 1.32 mM e 0.72 mM para P1 e P2, respectivamente. O valor de K M app para invertase usando sacarose como substrato foi de 15,66 mM. As preparações enzimáticas P1 e P2 mantiveram suas atividades após 3 h de pré-incubação a 50 ºC e a invertase manteve cerca de 90 por cento após 6 h a 55 ºC. P1 e P2 foram diferentemente sensíveis à inibição por Ag+, D-galactose e SDS. As preparações enzimáticas hidrolisaram os galactooligossacarídeos presentes em melaço de soja.

Purification and characterization of an alpha-galactosidase from Aspergillus fumigatus

O fungo termofílico Aspergillus fumigatus secreta as enzimas invertase (b-frutofuranosidase) e a-galactosidase (a-D-galactosídeo galactohi-drolase) que estão envolvidas na hidrólise completa dos oligossacarídeos de rafinose. A enzima a-galactosidase foi produzida em meio de cultura do fungo Aspergillus fumigatus crescido por 36 h a 42 °C em meio mineral mínimo contendo os açúcares galactose, ou melibiose, ou rafinose como fontes de carbono. A enzima foi purificada por filtração em gel, seguida por duas cromatografias de troca iônica. A massa molecular da a-galactosidase determinada por SDS-PAGE foi de 54,7 kDa. A atividade máxima da enzima purificada, utilizando o substrato r-nitrofenil-a-D-galactopiranosídeo (rNPGal) foi na faixa de pH entre 4,5 e 5,5 e a 55 °C. A enzima manteve aproximadamente 80% de sua atividade original mesmo após pré-incubação por 90 minutos a 50 °C. O valor de KM para o substrato rNPGal foi 0,3 mM. A enzima foi capaz de hidrolisar melibiose, mas sua atividade foi muito reduzida na presença do substrato rafinose.