Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Agricultural waste is seen as a new alternative substrate to the fermentation process. Integrated production and re-use of waste is an opportunity to make the process self-suitable in bio-refinery concept. Brazil is known to produce both spirit beverage such as cachaca and coffee generating thousands of dollars per year. However, these products are responsible for tons of liquid and solid waste with high carbon content that represent harmful deposition in the environment. The purpose of the biotechnological process is to use that waste to produce enzymes, pigments, flavor compounds and polyalcohols. Pulp, husk and vinasse are waste known as suitable for the microbial growth, producing add-value products. In this context, coffee waste and vinasse were used to produce carotenoids and flavor compounds, respectively. Both processes are aerobic and show simultaneous decrease of power pollution (evaluated by BOD parameter) and high concentration of add-value products. Productivity of carotenoids reached 21.35 mg/L and they had antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activity. In addition, these carotenoids could be used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Attainment of biomass from non-Saccharomyces strains was possible from vinasse with productivity reaching up to 92% in 70% of vinasse concentration. Nutritional and anti-nutritional parameters were evaluated and their concentration showed that the microbial biomass could be used to supplement food for animals.

Biography

Email: cristinafsb@dbi.ufla.br