Two projects of the Brazilian National Institute of Technology (NTI) have been approved by the National Research Center (NCI)
Research projects submitted by technologists from the National Institute of Technology (NTI), one to improve the use of lignocellulose biomass with more efficient enzymes, and another to expand the scope of the model for engineering planning, were selected by the National Research Center (NCI).
Coordinated by technologist Ayla Santana da Silva from the Department of Catalysis and Chemical Processes (DCAP), the project “Evaluation of the process of liquefaction of biomass of lignocellulose for enzymatic hydrolysis with high solids content” will be implemented in the biocatalysis laboratory of NTI in collaboration with the bioethanol laboratory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro … The work is aimed at establishing the influence of each aspect on the stage of lignocellulose biomass liquefaction. This research could contribute to large energy savings for industrial enterprises that are looking for the early adoption of the use of biomass on an industrial scale.
Although the processing of biomass by enzymatic hydrolysis is a widespread method and is already used in industry to depolymerize lignocellulose biomass to sugar, this technology still has many directions for additional research. One of the main tasks is to determine the phenomena occurring in the process of enzymatic hydrolysis with high solids content. Under these conditions, the conversion of cellulose to glucose leaves less waste, since the high viscosity of the fibrous material prevents the formation of enzymes. Thus, more effective enzyme preparations that can improve partial hydrolysis in the first hours of the process, which is called liquefaction, can make the mixture with solid particles more liquid, which will significantly increase the transparency of the mass.
The project “Evaluating a Robust Optimization Model for Tactical Capacity Planning of an Engineering Company,” led by technologist Andrea Nunez de Carvalho of the NTI Production Technology Research and Development Department, continues research that has developed a mathematical optimization model for planning the production of capital goods in the industry. This time, with the participation of two other engineering organizations, a case study is being carried out aimed at expanding the scope of the model.
Technologists Manoel Saysse, Adriana Caval, Luis Felipe Scavarda and Fabrizio Oliveira are taking part in the work. Analysis of the academic literature shows a lack of practical research in this area, including the use of decision support tools in real production conditions. This study should not only contribute to a new understanding of modeling and the implementation of robust optimization in real-world conditions, but also provide new empirical information about the use of this technology.
Source: http://www.int.gov.br