This thesis project is a contribution to addressing the pressing need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels and traditional plastics. The work focuses on enzymatic saccharification of microalgae biomass to generate a sugar-rich stream as raw material for biofuels and bioplastics production. Microalgae and cyanobacteria are highlighted for their ability to convert CO2 into valuable biomass components in the presence of light.  To enhance biomass conversion efficiency, the enzymatic hydrolysis of microalgae and cyanobacteria is explored by utilizing various enzymes to break down complex polymers into valuable sugars. Additionally, the cultivation of cyanobacteria is studied to optimize the overall process. Results indicate challenges, such as measurement uncertainty and the need for biomass pretreatment, suggesting areas for further research.  The primary objective of this thesis work is to optimize enzymatic hydrolysis processes by determining the optimal combinations of enzymes, to enhance biomass conversion efficiency. It also underscores the importance of microorganisms in transitioning to a more environmentally friendly future by offering sustainable alternatives to conventional products.

Orientador: Caio Glauco Sánchez / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T14:06:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Neves_RenatoCruz_M.pdf: 25784234 bytes, checksum: ce1b9833db6f80c61b19cd8781d17a52 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O desafio da tecnologia de reforma de gás de gaseificação é realizar a conversão de alcatrão e particulados em um gás, pois estes contaminantes podem trazer diversos problemas ao sistema de gaseificação como entupimento de filtros e corrosão. Dentre os equipamentos e métodos para a reforma do gás de gaseificação, encontra-se o plasma. Neste trabalho foi projetado, construído e ensaiado um sistema de reforma de gás de gaseificação proveniente de um reator de gaseificação utilizando a tocha de plasma. O sistema de reforma a plasma é constituído pela tocha de plasma inserida na garganta de um tubo convergente-divergente instalado na tubulação de saída do reator de gaseificação. A fonte de alimentação da tocha de plasma é o modelo Powermax1250 e a tocha é o modelo T80M, ambos da marca Hypertherm. A tocha de plasma utiliza nitrogênio como gás de trabalho, opera com pressão de 4; 0 bar no modo arco elétrico com corrente contínua, plasma térmico, não-transferido e alcança temperaturas superiores a 1673 K em distâncias menores que 30 mm. Na gaseificação foi utilizada a serragem de Peroba e Garapeira, fator de ar de 0; 22, velocidade de fluidização de 0,57 m.s-1 e utilizou-se 550 mm de altura do leito fixo de areia quartzosa. A coleta de alcatrão e particulado foi adaptada da norma CEN/BT/TF 143 ("Biomass gasification - Tar and particules in product gases - sampling and analysis"). Nas condições estudadas e analisadas deste trabalho, o valor obtido para a vazão mássica de alcatrão e material particulado foi de (5; 26+0; 58)10-3 g.s-1 para a gaseificação convencional enquanto que para a gaseificação utilizando a tecnologia da reforma de plasma foi de (3; 97+0; 14)10-3 g.s-1, que representou uma redução de 24; 52 % / Abstract: The technologic challenge on reformation of gasification gas is to convert tar and particulate matter into gas, because they can cause various problems on gasification system as corrosion and filters clogging. Among the equipment and methods for gasification gas reformation, it is used the plasma. In this work was designed, built and tested a system for gasification gas reformation from a gasification reactor using a plasma torch. The plasma system is formed by plasma torch inserted in the throat of a convergent-divergent tube installed in the outlet pipe of the gasification reactor. The power supply of the plasma torch is Powermax1250 and the model T80M plasma torch, both from Hypertherm brand. The plasma torch uses nitrogen as working gas, operates at a pressure of 4; 0 bar with arc current mode, thermal plasma, non-transferred and reaches temperatures above 1673 K in distances of less than 30 mm. In the gasification was used Peroba and Garapeira sawdust, air factor 0:22, fluidization velocity 0,57 m.s-1and 550 mm height fixed bed of quartz sand. The tar and particulate collection was adapted from CEN/BT/TF 143 (Biomass gasification - tar and particules in product gases - sampling and analysis). Under the conditions studied and analyzed in this work, the value obtained for the mass flow of tar and particulate material was (5; 26+0; 58)10-3 g.s-1 for conventional gasification while for using the reformation of gasification gas was de (3; 97+0; 14)10-3 g.s-1, which represented a reduction of 24:52 % / Mestrado / Termica e Fluidos / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Diploma thesis, in its introduction, describes the expression biomass and the ways of its production from various sources, focused particularly on waste biomass In the following part it deals with the description of its origin and the advantages of its usage. It describes the usage of biomass in the world as well as in the Slovak Republic. It also looks into the possibilities of processing of biomass and the following use at heat and electricity production. In its last part this work describes, on particular examples, the usage of biomass in electricity and heat production, from businesses with high power to its usage in houses.