Aproveitamento da casca de cupuaçu para diferentes aplicações da biorrefinaria

Abstract

The fruits of Amazon origin, in addition to representing a source of food for the regional population, are also part of cultural formation being of great importance for the producing, extractive community and society in general. In view of this, it is extremely necessary that the actors involved in research, development and innovation rethink the use of regional biodiversity, proposing an implementation that aims to add value to extractive products. Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is one of the fruits of Amazonian origin with intense application in Brazilian cuisine. Its husk is a waste that is not useful and has no proper final destination, and a potential lignocellulosic raw material that can be converted into chemicals with high added value and energy. One of the relevant steps in the biomass conversion process is pretreatment. From the pretreatment, a rigid structure that forms biomass-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, can be degraded so that its forming carbohydrates are more accessible in the following conversion steps. Many pretreatment techniques have been studied over the years, such as the application of ultrasonic energy, which can enhance the effect of other pretreatment, such as the use of acidic, basic and ionic liquid reagents, by example. Two important biomass conversion routes are acid hydrolysis and pyrolysis. From hydrolysis to cellulosic and/or hemicellulosic fractions, it can be “broken” thus obtaining its sugars, in parallel with the pre-treatment. Acid hydrolysis of biomass, followed by reactions that involve the dehydration of its monomers, can lead to the formation of notorious chemicals, such as furfural (FF), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and levulinic acid (AL). On the other hand, through pyrolysis (degradation to biomass at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen) it is possible to obtain bio-oil formed by a great diversity of compounds, of potential use in the chemical industry, or in energy generation. Given the possibility of converting biomass into products with high added value, such as those mentioned, this study proposed an analysis of the potential of the cupuaçu bark for the synthesis of bioproducts and energy. This proposal aims, above all, at the integral use of this residue under the biorefinery aspects, the maintenance of Amazonian biodiversity, as well as an option to increase the income of the producing and extractive communities of cupuaçu.