<p>Tailings are a fine-grained waste product produced during the metal recovery process. Tailings consist mostly of different silicates but also sulfides (e.g. pyrite), since 100 % metal recovery is not possible. Freshly processed tailings are deposited in large impoundments. If the mine tailings in the impoundments are exposed to water and oxygen, the sulfides will oxidize and release acidity and metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb. The sulfide mineral oxidation reactions are catalyzed by sulfur and iron oxidizing bacteria (principally <i>Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans</i>) that oxidize ferrous iron to ferric iron, which then oxidizes pyrite. When the leachate produced by this process discharges from the impoundment, it is called acid mine drainage, which may lead to the pollution of adjacent streams and lakes.</p><p>The intention with this thesis is to investigate and quantify mineral weathering processes and element release rates occurring in water-saturated and soil-covered sulfidic mine tailings. The study was performed in different batch and column experiments in room temperature and in the laboratory. The batch experiments were conducted for ca. three months and investigated: a) microbial and abiotic sulfide oxidation in freshly processed tailings under oxic conditions at pH 2-3 and pH 8, b) microbial oxidation of pure pyrite grains at pH 2-3 under different oxygen concentrations ranging from anoxic to oxic conditions. The column experiments, consisting of unoxidized tailings in water-saturated columns, were conducted for up to three years. In these experiments, an oxygen-saturated solution was continually pumped into the column inlet, and investigated: a) differences in oxidation rates between tailings of two different grain sizes, b) factors affecting element discharge rates, acid neutralization, and sulfide oxidation, c) the effect of ions released in a soil cover on release rates in the tailings.</p><p>Sulfide oxidation processes within the batch experiments were limited by surface kinetics. The microbial oxidation of pure pyrite at atmospheric conditions produced the most rapid rate, while the microbial oxidation of pure pyrite at anoxic conditions was slower by 1.8 orders of magnitude. Microbial and abiotic oxidation of pyrite in freshly-processed tailings resulted in pyrite oxidation rates that were intermediate between these two extremes. The results from the microbial experiments with pure pyrite indicated a positive correlation between the concentration of dissolved oxygen, ferric iron and bacterial cells (at a total cell concentration > 10⁶ cells/mL and a dissolved oxygen concentration ≥ 13.2 µM), which implies an interdependence of these factors. The results from these batch experiments support the indirect mechanism for microbial oxidation by the ferric oxidation pathway. Pyrite oxidation rates estimated from the batch experiments may be comparable with oxidation rates in the unsaturated zone and at the groundwater table in a tailings impoundment.</p><p>Acid neutralization reactions in the column experiments resulted in the release of base cations to the column leachate. Calcite was the most important neutralizing mineral despite that it was only present in minor amounts in the tailings. It was confirmed that acidity forced the calcite dissolution. Element release rates in the column experiments were controlled by the availability of dissolved oxygen, which was a function of the water flow rate into the column. These column experiments also showed that the results are comparable with results from field studies, justifying the use of column experiments to study processes within tailings impoundments.</p>

Tailings are a fine-grained waste product produced during the metal recovery process. Tailings consist mostly of different silicates but also sulfides (e.g. pyrite), since 100 % metal recovery is not possible. Freshly processed tailings are deposited in large impoundments. If the mine tailings in the impoundments are exposed to water and oxygen, the sulfides will oxidize and release acidity and metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb. The sulfide mineral oxidation reactions are catalyzed by sulfur and iron oxidizing bacteria (principally Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) that oxidize ferrous iron to ferric iron, which then oxidizes pyrite. When the leachate produced by this process discharges from the impoundment, it is called acid mine drainage, which may lead to the pollution of adjacent streams and lakes. The intention with this thesis is to investigate and quantify mineral weathering processes and element release rates occurring in water-saturated and soil-covered sulfidic mine tailings. The study was performed in different batch and column experiments in room temperature and in the laboratory. The batch experiments were conducted for ca. three months and investigated: a) microbial and abiotic sulfide oxidation in freshly processed tailings under oxic conditions at pH 2-3 and pH 8, b) microbial oxidation of pure pyrite grains at pH 2-3 under different oxygen concentrations ranging from anoxic to oxic conditions. The column experiments, consisting of unoxidized tailings in water-saturated columns, were conducted for up to three years. In these experiments, an oxygen-saturated solution was continually pumped into the column inlet, and investigated: a) differences in oxidation rates between tailings of two different grain sizes, b) factors affecting element discharge rates, acid neutralization, and sulfide oxidation, c) the effect of ions released in a soil cover on release rates in the tailings. Sulfide oxidation processes within the batch experiments were limited by surface kinetics. The microbial oxidation of pure pyrite at atmospheric conditions produced the most rapid rate, while the microbial oxidation of pure pyrite at anoxic conditions was slower by 1.8 orders of magnitude. Microbial and abiotic oxidation of pyrite in freshly-processed tailings resulted in pyrite oxidation rates that were intermediate between these two extremes. The results from the microbial experiments with pure pyrite indicated a positive correlation between the concentration of dissolved oxygen, ferric iron and bacterial cells (at a total cell concentration &gt; 106 cells/mL and a dissolved oxygen concentration ≥ 13.2 µM), which implies an interdependence of these factors. The results from these batch experiments support the indirect mechanism for microbial oxidation by the ferric oxidation pathway. Pyrite oxidation rates estimated from the batch experiments may be comparable with oxidation rates in the unsaturated zone and at the groundwater table in a tailings impoundment. Acid neutralization reactions in the column experiments resulted in the release of base cations to the column leachate. Calcite was the most important neutralizing mineral despite that it was only present in minor amounts in the tailings. It was confirmed that acidity forced the calcite dissolution. Element release rates in the column experiments were controlled by the availability of dissolved oxygen, which was a function of the water flow rate into the column. These column experiments also showed that the results are comparable with results from field studies, justifying the use of column experiments to study processes within tailings impoundments.

Juvenile silver fish (Rhamdia quelen) were exposed to the essential oil of Lippia alba (L. alba) and transported in plastic bags for different periods (5, 6 and 7 h) yielding final different oxygen levels. The biomarkers of oxidative stress, lipoperoxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were measured in the liver, gills and brain of the fish. The juveniles were assigned to 6 different treatment groups according to the presence or not of the essential oil of L. alba in water (10 μL/L) and the length of transportation, which determined the final concentration of dissolved oxygen inside the bags: Five hours: hyperoxia (13.25 ± 0.35 mg/L O2); hyperoxia with L. alba (11.27 ± 0.22 mg/L O2); Six hours: normoxia (7.35 ± 0.35 mg/L O2); normoxia with L. alba (7.29 ± 0.40 mg/L O2); Seven hours: hypoxia (2.29 ± 0.36 mg/L O2); hypoxia with L. alba (3.82 ± 0.7 mg/L O2). The addition of essential oil of L. alba causes an increase of LPO in the tissues exposed to hyperoxia and a reduction of GST in the fish kept under hyperoxia and hypoxia as compared to those under normoxia. In the tissues there is a reduction of LPO and GST and an increase of SOD in the specimens under hypoxia and a reduction of GST in those under hyperoxia with the oil. These results suggest that the presence of the essential oil of L. alba improves the redox state in the evaluated tissues, both under hyperoxia and under hypoxia. / Juvenis de jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) foram expostos ao óleo essencial de Lippia alba (L. alba) e transportados em sacos plásticos por períodos diferentes (5, 6 e 7 h) produzindo diferentes concentrações finais de oxigênio. Os biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo, lipoperoxidação (LPO), catalase (CAT), superóxido dismutase (SOD), e glutationa-S-transferase (GST) foram mensurados em fígado, brânquias e cérebro de peixes. Os juvenis foram separados em 6 grupos de tratamento diferentes de acordo com a presença ou não do óleo essencial de L. alba na água (10 μL/L) e o tempo de transporte, o qual determinou a concentração final de oxigênio dissolvido no interior dos sacos: Cinco horas: hiperóxia (13.25 ± 0.35 mg/L O2); hiperóxia com L. alba (11.27 ± 0.22 mg/L O2); Seis horas: normóxia (7.35 ± 0.35 mg/L O2); normóxia com L. alba (7.29 ± 0.40 mg/L O2); Sete horas: hipóxia (2.29 ± 0.36 mg/L O2); hipóxia com L. alba (3.82 ± 0.7 mg/L O2). A adição do óleo essencial de L. alba causou um aumento da LPO nos tecidos expostos a hiperóxia e uma redução da GST nos peixes mantidos sob hiperóxia e hipóxia comparado aqueles sob normóxia. Nos tecidos houve uma redução da LPO e GST e um aumento da SOD nas espécies sob hipóxia e uma redução da GST naqueles sob hiperóxia com óleo. Estes resultados sugerem que a presença do óleo essencial de L. alba melhora o estado redox nos tecidos avaliados, ambos sob hiperóxia e sob hipóxia.

Submitted by Izabel Franco (izabel-franco@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-12T18:27:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseAWAA.pdf: 1989758 bytes, checksum: 3b9bb42707bd9a2782fcc39bd906d77d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-13T19:53:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseAWAA.pdf: 1989758 bytes, checksum: 3b9bb42707bd9a2782fcc39bd906d77d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-13T19:53:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseAWAA.pdf: 1989758 bytes, checksum: 3b9bb42707bd9a2782fcc39bd906d77d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-13T19:53:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseAWAA.pdf: 1989758 bytes, checksum: 3b9bb42707bd9a2782fcc39bd906d77d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-13 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / The humic substances (HS) are important to aquatic ecosystems. In this study we investigated the kinetics and molecular variations of dissolved fulvic acids (FA) and humic acids (HA) formed from aquatic macrophytes decomposition under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The results supported the proposition and validation of kinetic models that treated the formation, transformation and mineralization of dissolved SH. Although mineralization and humification are concurrent events, the aerobic condition favored these two processes contributed primarily to HA formation. The detritus showed different mineralization and HS formation potentials. Larger amounts of HS were related to higher carbon content in the detritus and lower mineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The SH mass loss rates were lower than the refractory fraction of particulate detritus, showing the recalcitrance of dissolved HS. The DOC with higher C/N proportions presented higher coefficient rates. The HS presented similar characteristics regardless of detritus source. However, aerobic conditions favored variation of polysaccharides content in HS, indicating transformation of these compounds. Aerobic conditions favored dissolved HS mineralization and its assimilation by microorganisms. The AH presented higher reactive fraction than FA, and was an important precursor of FA. The FA presented refractory characteristics and formed less HA, indicating that the liginocellulosic compounds of the detritus are the main precursors of HA. / As substâncias húmicas (SH) são de grande importância para os ecossistemas aquáticos. Nesse estudo investigaram-se a cinética e a variação molecular de ácidos fúlvicos (AF) e húmicos (AH) dissolvidos formados da degradação de macrófitas aquáticas, em condições aeróbias e anaeróbias. Os resultados subsidiaram a proposição e validação de modelos cinéticos que trataram da formação, transformação e mineralização das SH dissolvidas. Embora a mineralização e a humificação sejam eventos concorrentes, a condição aeróbia favoreceu esses dois processos e contribuiu, principalmente, com a formação dos AH. Os detritos apresentaram diferentes potencias de mineralização e formação de SH dissolvidas. As maiores quantidades de SH foram relacionadas com o maior teor de carbono no detrito e menor degradação do carbono orgânico dissolvido (COD). Os coeficientes de perda de massa das SH foram inferiores aos da fração refratária particulada dos detritos, evidenciando a recalcitrância das SH dissolvidas. O COD apresentou coeficientes de mineralização maiores nos meios com relações C/N maiores. As SH apresentaram características semelhantes independentemente da origem do detrito. Entretanto, houve variações maiores de polissacarídeos em condição aeróbia, indicando que houve maior transformação desses compostos nessa condição. Os ambientes aeróbios favoreceram a degradação das SH dissolvidas e a incorporação pelos microrganismos. O AH apresentou maior fração reativa que o AF e, por conseguinte, foi indicado como potencial precursor de AF. Os AF apresentaram características mais refratárias e formaram menos AH, indicando que os compostos lignocelulósicos dos detritos foram os principais precursores dos AH.

En raison des capacités de mélange limitantes, des hétérogénéités au sein des bioréacteurs se produisent régulièrement lors de l’extrapolation à l’échelle industrielle. En conséquence, les microorganismes circulant au sein de ces bioréacteurs sont continuellement exposés à des gradients locaux au niveau des paramètres fondamentaux du procédé tel que le pH, la température, la concentration en substrat et en oxygène dissous. Ces fluctuations micro-environnementales peuvent affecter la croissance, le métabolisme et la morphologie des cellules, en fonction de la nature, de l’intensité, de la durée et/ou de la fréquence de la perturbation rencontrée. L’objectif de ce travail est l’étude quantitative de l’impact des fluctuations de pH et d’oxygène dissous sur le comportement dynamique de Yarrowia lipolytica, une levure avec un potentiel biotechnologique prometteur, aussi bien aux niveaux morphologique que métabolique. Pour répondre à cet objectif, des cultures en bioréacteur en conditions d’environnement contrôlé ont été mises en œuvre afin d’établir un lien de causalité directe entre la perturbation et la réponse observée. L’implémentation de deux modes de cultures différents (batch et chemostat) a permis de caractériser le comportement dynamique des populations cellulaires dans des états physiologiques différents: En mode continu, toutes les cellules sont dans le même état physiologique et se multiplient à la même vitesse de croissance, tandis que des sous-populations de levures dans des états physiologiques distincts peuvent cohabiter dans les cultures en mode batch. Un effort important a été consacré au développement et validation des méthodes pour une quantification rigoureuse des évolutions morphologiques de Y. lipolytica à l’échelle de la population. Le comportement macroscopique de la levure a été caractérisé par l’évaluation des dynamiques de croissance, la viabilité, les vitesses de consommation du glucose et d’oxygène, ainsi que les vitesses de production d’acide organique et de dioxyde de carbone. Trois techniques, à savoir la cytométrie en flux (CYT), la morpho-granulométrie (MG) et la diffraction dynamique de la lumière (DLS) ont été employé pour la quantification du phénomène d’élongation. Les résultats obtenus démontrent qu’il n’y a pas d’effet significatif des fluctuations de pH et d’oxygène dissous sur le comportement macroscopique (vitesses spécifiques, rendements, viabilité) de la levure. Néanmoins, une transition micellaire a été induite en réponse aux deux facteurs de stress (pH and pO2) seulement en conditions d’excès de glucose, suggérant ainsi un impact de la concentration résiduelle de glucose sur la régulation de dimorphisme chez Y. lipolytica. Le contrôle et la régulation de la concentration de glucose dans le milieu peut contribuer à une meilleure maitrise des changements morphologiques de Y. lipolytica en réponse à des stimuli de l’environnement. / Due to limited mixing capacities, heterogeneities regularly occur when scaling-up bioreactors for large-scale production. Microbial cultures are continuously exposed to local gradients in fundamental process parameters such as substrate, pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen DO concentration. These micro-environmental fluctuations may have detrimental effects on cellular growth, metabolism and morphology, depending on the nature, intensity, duration and/or frequency of the fluctuations encountered. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pH and DO fluctuations on the dynamic behavior of Yarrowia lipolytica, a microorganism with a promising biotechnological potential, at both morphological and metabolic levels. For this purpose, batch and continuous cultivations modes were preferentially adopted, as it enabled respectively, the study of the stress response of yeast populations growing at their maximum specific rate, and at various controlled specific growth rates in physiological steady-states. In addition, an important effort was devoted to the development and validation of morphological methods in order to acquire quantitative characterization of the response dynamics at the population scale. The macroscopic behavior of Y. lipolytica was assessed through examining the patterns of growth, viability, glucose uptake, oxygen consumption, organic acid and carbon dioxide production rates. Changes in the yeast morphology were characterized at the cell population level by means of flow cytometry, morphogranulometry and diffraction light scattering techniques. The results reflected no significant effect of pH and DO fluctuations on the macroscopic behavior (specific rates, yields, viability) of the yeast. Nevertheless, mycelial growth was induced upon exposure to both stressors, only in glucose-excess environments, suggesting therefore an impact of glucose levels on the regulation of dimorphic transition in Y. lipolytica. Controlling residual glucose concentrations in Y. lipolytica fermentations may contribute to a better monitoring of its morphological changes in response to environmental stimuli. Such data would help to optimize bioprocess performances at the industrial scale since it alleviates physico-chemical impacts due to filamentous cells.

A palha de cana-de-açúcar está se tornando uma biomassa lignocelulósica disponível a partir da progressiva introdução da colheita mecanizada da cana-deaçúcar no Brasil, situação que possibilita a utilização de uma parte desta como matéria-prima em processos de conversão termoquímica ou bioquímica. Além de pesquisas de uso da palha de cana para produção de bioenergia, a conversão bioquímica dos açúcares constituintes de sua fração hemicelulósica, particularmente a xilose, é uma rota potencial para seu aproveitamento na obtenção de produtos de alto valor agregado, como o xilitol. A importância deste poliol se deve às suas peculiares propriedades que permitem sua aplicação nas indústrias alimentícia, odontológica e farmacêutica, aliado ao fato do continuo e rápido crescimento de seu mercado mundial. No presente trabalho foi estudado o aproveitamento da fração hemicelulósica da palha de cana como matéria-prima na produção biotecnológica de xilitol, visando a valorização e incorporação desta biomassa em uma biorrefinaria de cana-de-açúcar. O elevado conteúdo de hemicelulose da palha de cana (27%), similar ao encontrado em outras biomassas lignocelulósicas avaliadas para produção de xilitol, e a maior proporção de xilose no hidrolisado hemicelulósico (71%) em relação aos outros açúcares constituintes, tornam esta biomassa potencial matéria-prima para este bioprocesso. A utilização do hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana concentrado e destoxificado como meio de fermentação para a bioconversão de xilose em xilitol por Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 foi avaliada em diferentes fases da pesquisa. Na primeira, foi estudada a necessidade de suplementação nutricional do hidrolisado e a disponibilidade inicial de oxigênio, sendo realizadas fermentações em batelada em frascos Erlenmeyer de 125mL com 25mL ou 50mL de meio, 30oC, 200rpm e 48h. Foi demonstrado que a suplementação do hidrolisado com extrato de farelo de arroz, (NH4)2SO4 e CaCl2·2H2O resultou em aumento do valor da produtividade volumétrica de xilitol, enquanto que a menor disponibilidade inicial de oxigênio favoreceu a eficiência de bioconversão. A avaliação do efeito dos co-substratos maltose, sacarose, celobiose e glicerol sobre este bioprocesso revelou que o maior favorecimento foi obtido com sacarose (10gL-1), já que resultou nos máximos valores de concentração final de xilitol (41,36 ± 1,69 gL-1), eficiência de bioconversão (75,70 ± 0,73%) e produtividade volumétrica (0,61 ± 0,02 gL-1h-1), correspondentes a incrementos de 9,04%, 5,01% e 6,56%, respectivamente, em relação à condição ausente de cosubstratos. A adição ao hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana de Dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO), composto com capacidade de permeabilizante de membrana celular, não resultou no incremento da produção de xilitol, a qual, pelo contrário, foi reduzida em razão da diminuição no consumo de xilose e crescimento celular de C. guilliermondii FTI 20037. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo indicam que a produção biotecnológica de xilitol a partir de hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana suplementado com sacarose pode ser considerada uma rota de conversão bioquímica promissora para a valorização e integração desta biomassa em uma biorrefinaria de cana-de-açúcar. / Sugarcane straw is becoming an available lignocellulosic biomass from the progressive introduction of non-burning harvest in Brazil, situation that enables the utilization of a portion of this material as feedstock in thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes. Besides the use of sugarcane straw for bioenergy production, biochemical conversion of the constituent sugars of its hemicellulosic fraction, particularly xylose, is a potential route for the use of this biomass to obtain high added value products, such as xylitol. The importance of this product is due to its particular properties that enable its application in food, dental and pharmaceutical industries, coupled with the fact of the continuous and rapid growth of its market. In the present work it was studied the utilization of sugarcane straw hemicellulosic fraction as feedstock for biotechnological production of xylitol, aiming at the valorization and integration of this biomass in a sugarcane biorefinery. The high hemicellulosic content of sugarcane straw (27%), similar to that found in other lignocellulosic biomasses evaluated for xylitol production, and the higher proportion of xylose in the hemicellulosic hydrolysate (71%) in relation to the other constituent sugars, make this biomass potential feedstock for this bioprocess. The utilization of the concentrated and detoxified sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate as fermentation medium for xylose-toxylitol bioconversion by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 was evaluated in different stages. In the first one, it was studied the necessity of nutritional supplementation of the hydrolysate and initial oxygen availability, being carried out batch fermentations in 125mL Erlenmeyer flasks with 25mL or 50mL of medium, 30oC, 200rpm and 48h. It was demonstrated that the supplementation of the hydrolysate with rice bran extract, (NH4)2SO4 and CaCl2·2H2O resulted on the increment of the value of xylitol volumetric productivity, whereas the higher initial oxygen availability favored the bioconversion efficiency. The evaluation of the effect of the co-substrates maltose, sucrose, cellobiose and glycerol on this bioprocess revealed that the higher improvement was obtained with sucrose (10gL-1), since it resulted in the maximum values of final concentration of xylitol (41.36 ± 1.69 gL-1), bioconversion efficiency (75.70 ± 0.73%) and volumetric productivity (0.61 ± 0.02 gL-1h-1), corresponding to increments of 9.04%, 5.01% and 6.56%, respectively, in relation to the condition absent of co-substrates. The addition to the sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate of Dimethyl-sulfoxide, a cell membrane permeabilizer, did not resulted on the increasing of the xylitol production, which, in fact, was reduced due to the diminution on xylose consumption and cell growth of C. guilliermondii FTI 20037. The results obtained in this study indicate that biotechnological production of xylitol from sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate supplemented with sucrose can be considered a promissory biochemical conversion route for valorization and integration of this biomass in a sugarcane biorefinery.

A palha de cana-de-açúcar está se tornando uma biomassa lignocelulósica disponível a partir da progressiva introdução da colheita mecanizada da cana-deaçúcar no Brasil, situação que possibilita a utilização de uma parte desta como matéria-prima em processos de conversão termoquímica ou bioquímica. Além de pesquisas de uso da palha de cana para produção de bioenergia, a conversão bioquímica dos açúcares constituintes de sua fração hemicelulósica, particularmente a xilose, é uma rota potencial para seu aproveitamento na obtenção de produtos de alto valor agregado, como o xilitol. A importância deste poliol se deve às suas peculiares propriedades que permitem sua aplicação nas indústrias alimentícia, odontológica e farmacêutica, aliado ao fato do continuo e rápido crescimento de seu mercado mundial. No presente trabalho foi estudado o aproveitamento da fração hemicelulósica da palha de cana como matéria-prima na produção biotecnológica de xilitol, visando a valorização e incorporação desta biomassa em uma biorrefinaria de cana-de-açúcar. O elevado conteúdo de hemicelulose da palha de cana (27%), similar ao encontrado em outras biomassas lignocelulósicas avaliadas para produção de xilitol, e a maior proporção de xilose no hidrolisado hemicelulósico (71%) em relação aos outros açúcares constituintes, tornam esta biomassa potencial matéria-prima para este bioprocesso. A utilização do hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana concentrado e destoxificado como meio de fermentação para a bioconversão de xilose em xilitol por Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 foi avaliada em diferentes fases da pesquisa. Na primeira, foi estudada a necessidade de suplementação nutricional do hidrolisado e a disponibilidade inicial de oxigênio, sendo realizadas fermentações em batelada em frascos Erlenmeyer de 125mL com 25mL ou 50mL de meio, 30oC, 200rpm e 48h. Foi demonstrado que a suplementação do hidrolisado com extrato de farelo de arroz, (NH4)2SO4 e CaCl2·2H2O resultou em aumento do valor da produtividade volumétrica de xilitol, enquanto que a menor disponibilidade inicial de oxigênio favoreceu a eficiência de bioconversão. A avaliação do efeito dos co-substratos maltose, sacarose, celobiose e glicerol sobre este bioprocesso revelou que o maior favorecimento foi obtido com sacarose (10gL-1), já que resultou nos máximos valores de concentração final de xilitol (41,36 ± 1,69 gL-1), eficiência de bioconversão (75,70 ± 0,73%) e produtividade volumétrica (0,61 ± 0,02 gL-1h-1), correspondentes a incrementos de 9,04%, 5,01% e 6,56%, respectivamente, em relação à condição ausente de cosubstratos. A adição ao hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana de Dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO), composto com capacidade de permeabilizante de membrana celular, não resultou no incremento da produção de xilitol, a qual, pelo contrário, foi reduzida em razão da diminuição no consumo de xilose e crescimento celular de C. guilliermondii FTI 20037. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo indicam que a produção biotecnológica de xilitol a partir de hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana suplementado com sacarose pode ser considerada uma rota de conversão bioquímica promissora para a valorização e integração desta biomassa em uma biorrefinaria de cana-de-açúcar. / Sugarcane straw is becoming an available lignocellulosic biomass from the progressive introduction of non-burning harvest in Brazil, situation that enables the utilization of a portion of this material as feedstock in thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes. Besides the use of sugarcane straw for bioenergy production, biochemical conversion of the constituent sugars of its hemicellulosic fraction, particularly xylose, is a potential route for the use of this biomass to obtain high added value products, such as xylitol. The importance of this product is due to its particular properties that enable its application in food, dental and pharmaceutical industries, coupled with the fact of the continuous and rapid growth of its market. In the present work it was studied the utilization of sugarcane straw hemicellulosic fraction as feedstock for biotechnological production of xylitol, aiming at the valorization and integration of this biomass in a sugarcane biorefinery. The high hemicellulosic content of sugarcane straw (27%), similar to that found in other lignocellulosic biomasses evaluated for xylitol production, and the higher proportion of xylose in the hemicellulosic hydrolysate (71%) in relation to the other constituent sugars, make this biomass potential feedstock for this bioprocess. The utilization of the concentrated and detoxified sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate as fermentation medium for xylose-toxylitol bioconversion by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 was evaluated in different stages. In the first one, it was studied the necessity of nutritional supplementation of the hydrolysate and initial oxygen availability, being carried out batch fermentations in 125mL Erlenmeyer flasks with 25mL or 50mL of medium, 30oC, 200rpm and 48h. It was demonstrated that the supplementation of the hydrolysate with rice bran extract, (NH4)2SO4 and CaCl2·2H2O resulted on the increment of the value of xylitol volumetric productivity, whereas the higher initial oxygen availability favored the bioconversion efficiency. The evaluation of the effect of the co-substrates maltose, sucrose, cellobiose and glycerol on this bioprocess revealed that the higher improvement was obtained with sucrose (10gL-1), since it resulted in the maximum values of final concentration of xylitol (41.36 ± 1.69 gL-1), bioconversion efficiency (75.70 ± 0.73%) and volumetric productivity (0.61 ± 0.02 gL-1h-1), corresponding to increments of 9.04%, 5.01% and 6.56%, respectively, in relation to the condition absent of co-substrates. The addition to the sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate of Dimethyl-sulfoxide, a cell membrane permeabilizer, did not resulted on the increasing of the xylitol production, which, in fact, was reduced due to the diminution on xylose consumption and cell growth of C. guilliermondii FTI 20037. The results obtained in this study indicate that biotechnological production of xylitol from sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate supplemented with sucrose can be considered a promissory biochemical conversion route for valorization and integration of this biomass in a sugarcane biorefinery.