BIOTECHNOLOGICAL VALORIZATION OF THE BIOMASS FROM THE BANANA PLANT FOR THE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF LACTIC ACID

BANANA IS ONE OF THE MAIN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF ECUADOR, WITH A CULTIVATED AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 160.6 THOUSAND HECTARES AND AN ANNUAL PRODUCTION NEARLY 6.0 MILLION TONS. HOWEVER, INTENSIVE PRODUCTION GENERATES ABOUT 5 MILLION TONS OF RESIDUAL BIOMASS EACH YEAR (PSEUDOTOM, LEAVES, RACHIS AND NON-MARKETABLE FRUITS). A LARGE PART OF THIS BIOMASS IS LEFT IN THE SOIL, WHICH PROMOTES THE PROLIFERATION OF PESTS, GENERATES GREENHOUSE GASES AND CAN CAUSE LEACHING OF NUTRIENTS INTO GROUNDWATER. THIS PROJECT PROPOSES THE VALORIZATION OF THIS BIOMASS BY OBTAINING FERMENTABLE SUGARS FROM ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS AND PHYSICAL PRETREATMENTS, COMPARING THEIR EFFICIENCY TO RELEASE GLUCOSE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SUGARS WILL BE FERMENTED FOR THE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF LACTIC ACID, A COMPOUND OF HIGH INDUSTRIAL VALUE USED IN BIOPLASTICS, FOOD AND PHARMACEUTICALS. OPERATING CONDITIONS WILL BE OPTIMIZED THROUGH FACTORIAL DESIGN AND TAGUCHI DESIGN TO MAXIMIZE THE PERFORMANCE OF LACTIC ACID. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO CONVERT AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.

XXII UNIVERSITY COMPETITION FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS