Kinetic evaluation and mathematical modeling of the inulinase production by solid-state fermentation in a packed-bed bioreactor

Orientadores: Francisco Maugeri Filho, Helen TreichelTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de AlimentosResumo: Nas últimas duas décadas houve um aumento considerável no emprego de fermentação em estado sólido (FES) para a obtenção de enzimas de interesse em alimentos, incluindo a inulinase. No entanto, todos os trabalhos reportados na literatura abordam a produção de inulinase em escala de bancada, usando poucos gramas de substrato. Essa estratégia de condução do processo é muito importante na etapa de seleção dos substratos e triagem dos microrganismos produtores. Porém, não permite a avaliação do desempenho do processo em escalas maiores. O objetivo desse trabalho foi investigar a produção de inulinase por FES num biorreator de leito fixo com capacidade para 3kg (base seca) usando a levedura Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-7571. Inicialmente, foi realizado um delineamento composto central rotacional (DCCR) para otimizar a massa inicial de células, a temperatura e a vazão do ar de entrada do biorreator. A partir dos resultados obtidos na otimização, foram realizados 7 experimentos em torno da região otimizada, visando a avaliação cinética do processo. Foram monitorados experimentalmente o consumo de açúcar redutor total (ART), a produção de dióxido de carbono (CO2) e a geração de calor metabólico. A produção de água metabólica, massa de células e etanol, além do consumo de oxigênio, foram calculados a partir de uma equação estequiométrica, tomando como base a produção de CO2 e o consumo de ART. Os dados obtidos na avaliação cinética foram usados para a geração de um modelo de crescimento da levedura Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-7571 em FES. Este modelo é baseado em redes neurais artificiais (RNA), onde são usadas como entradas para a rede a massa inicial de ART, temperatura do ar de entrada do biorreator, temperatura do ar de saída do biorreator e tempo de fermentação. Como respostas têm-se as taxas associadas com o crescimento da levedura Kluyveromyces marxianus, como a produção de CO2, calor metabólico, etanol, água metabólica, atividade da inulinase e massa celular, além das taxas de consumo de oxigênio (O2) e ART. Por fim, o modelo de crescimento microbiano foi acoplado ao balanço macroscópico de energia no biorreator com o objetivo de prever os perfis de temperatura ao longo do processo. Entre os resultados obtidos no DCCR tem-se que a máxima produção de inulinase obtida foi de 437±36 unidades por grama de substrato seco (U.gds-1) (produtividade de 18,2 U.gds-1.h-1) quando a temperatura do ar de entrada, vazão volumétrica de ar e massa de células foram 30°C, 2,2 m3.h-1 e 22 g, respectivamente. Na avaliação cinética do processo, foram verificadas diferenças nas taxas associadas ao crescimento microbiano entre as condições experimentais. O aumento da temperatura do ar de entrada mostrou ter influência no tempo onde as taxas máximas foram verificadas, sendo que quanto mais alta a temperatura menor foi esse tempo. A temperatura máxima obtida na corrente de ar na saída do biorreator atingiu valores próximos a 50°C, não afetando o teor de umidade do substrato, o qual se manteve acima de 65%. A produção de inulinase mostrou variações significativas com a altura do biorreator. As maiores taxas associadas com o crescimento microbiano foram verificadas quando a temperatura do ar de saída atingiu valores compreendidos entre 30¿38°C, o que corresponde a 4-9 horas de fermentação. O modelo matemático baseado em redes neurais empregado para predizer as principais taxas associadas ao crescimento da levedura K. marxianus em FES mostrou desempenho satisfatório na representação dos dados experimentais e ao acoplar esse modelo à equação de balanço de energia macroscópico do processo obteve-se uma representação satisfatória dos perfis de temperatura ao longo do biorreatorAbstract: In the last two decades there has been a considerable increase in the interest of using solid-state fermentation (SSF) for the development of several bioprocesses and products, including enzyme production, as the inulinase. Nevertheless, all works related in the literature regarding the inulinase production were conducted in small scales, using few grams of substrate. This strategy is interesting to select the most promising substrate and microorganisms, which are able to produce the desired product, but this scale is not appropriated for the evaluation of process performance in larger scales. This work evaluate the inulinase production by SSF in a packed-bed bioreactor with available capacity of 3 kg (dry basis) using the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-7571. Initially, it was evaluated the technical viability to produce inulinase by SSF in the packed-bed bioreactor. To optimize the operational conditions, such as temperature and flow rate of inlet air and the initial mass of cells, a central composite rotational design (CCRD) for three independent variables was carried out. Starting from the results obtained in the CCRD, seven new experimental runs were carried out within the range investigated for the independent variables to evaluate the kinetics of cell growth and inulinase production by Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-7571 in the packed-bed bioreactor. A stoichiometry correlation between CO2, ethanol, metabolic water, O2 and total reducing sugar was determined. Besides, the metabolic heat production was estimated by a proper energy balance in the inlet and outlet air stream. The data obtained during the kinetic evaluation of the process were employed on the development of a mathematical model based on artificial neural networks (ANN) to predict the above mentioned microbial rates associated with the microbial growth in function of the fermentation time, initial total reducing sugar concentration, inlet and outlet air temperatures. In the last step of the work, the model related to the microbial growth was coupled to the macroscopic energy balance in the bioreactor to predict the temperature profile through the substrate bed. The results obtained in the CCRD showed that the optimum inulinase production was 436.7±36.3 U.gds-1 at 24 h of fermentation (productivity of 18.2 U.gds-1.h- 1) when SSF was carried out at 30°C of air inlet temperature, 2.2 m3.h-1 of air flow rate and 22 g of cells. During the kinetic evaluation of the process it was verified that the manipulated variables affected the process performance. The maximum temperature reached in the outlet air stream was about 50°C, however not affecting the moisture content of the substrates that was higher than 65% (w/w) inside the bioreactor. The inulinase production showed significant variations in different bed heights inside the bioreactor. The highest microbial rates were verified when the mean temperature of moist substrate reached values in the range of 30 to 38°C that leads to a fermentation time between 4 to 9 hours. The model developed to predict the main microbial rates of the yeast K. marxianus grown in solid-state fermentation showed a good performance during both training and validation steps. The framework developed showed to be an interesting alternative to substitute the simple empirical microbial model in the macroscopic balance of energy in the bioreactor, since the proposed hybrid model predicted efficiently the temperature profiles through the bioreactorDoutoradoDoutor em Engenharia de Alimento

AVALIAÇÃO DE DIFERENTES MÉTODOS DE PRESERVAÇÃO DO FUNGO Phoma dimorpha: PRESERVAÇÃO DO FUNGO Phoma dimorpha

Facing the need for preservation and maintenance of biological materials, among them fungi with potential for biological control, for biotechnological and scientific development, which are gaining prominence in the world scenario. It is necessary to adapt preservation methods that besides guaranteeing the survival of these microorganisms allow the conservation of their morphological, physiological and genetic characteristics, however, there is no ideal or universal method for the conservation of biological materials. In view of this need, the present work had the objective of evaluating the efficacy and feasibility of three methods for the preservation of Phoma dimorpha (periodic repictions, Castellani and filter paper fragments) isolates in two evaluation periods, six and twelve months after the storage. Efficacy and viability were studied by mycelial growth of the fungus in a culture medium containing potato-dextrose-agar. There was variability between the preservation methods of the P. dimorpha fungus isolate for mycelial growth, method efficacy and mycelial growth rate index, in the two evaluation periods, after six and twelve months of storage. The filter paper fragment preservation method was the most effective in preserving the P. dimorpha fungus isolate in the two evaluation periods, after six and twelve months of storage, being ideal to obtain the highest mycelial growth, efficacy of the method and mycelial growth rate index.Frente a necessidade de preservação e a manutenção de materiais biológicos, dentre eles fungos com potencial para controle biológico, para o desenvolvimento biotecnológico e científico, que vêm ganhando destaque no cenário mundial. Sendo necessário a adequação de métodos de preservação que além de garantia a sobrevivência destes microrganismos permitam a conservação de suas características morfológicas, fisiológicas e genéticas, no entanto, não existe um método ideal ou universal para a conservação de materiais biológicos. Diante desta necessidade o presente trabalho teve como objetivo de avaliar a eficácia e viabilidade de três métodos de preservação de isolados do fungo Phoma dimorpha (repicagens periódicas, Castellani e fragmentos de papel-filtro), em dois períodos de avaliação, seis e doze meses após o armazenamento. Estudou-se a eficácia e viabilidade, através do crescimento micelial do fungo em meio de cultivo contendo batata-dextrose-ágar. Houve variabilidade entre os métodos de preservação do isolado do fungo P. dimorpha para o crescimento micelial, eficácia do método e índice de velocidade do crescimento micelial, nos dois períodos de avaliação, após seis e doze meses de armazenamento. O método de preservação em fragmento de papel filtro mostrou-se como o mais eficaz na preservação do isolado do fungo P. dimorpha nos dois períodos de avaliação, após seis e doze meses de armazenamento, sendo ideal para obter o maior o crescimento micelial, eficácia do método e índice de velocidade do crescimento micelial

Identification by PCR and evaluation of probiotic potential in yeast strains found in kefir samples in the city of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

Kefir is a product elaborated from the symbiotic fermentation of different microorganisms. The Kluyveromyces and Saccharomyces genera are the major representatives of the yeasts found in kefir microbiota. The only pobiotic yeast commercialized as an oral medication, is the Saccharomyces boulardii. The present work involved the microbiological quality examination of six kefir samples in the city of Santa Maria/RS, the yeasts isolation present in the samples and the identification of them by PCR (Polymerase chain reaction). Then, their probiotic potential was evaluated by in vitro technique. After that, microbiological analysis confirmed that kefir samples were suitable for consumption once the microbiological quality was established. Nineteen yeast strains were isolated from six different kefir samples; it was identified, by PCR analysis, but only three species were identified from these microorganisms in the present article: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hanseniospora uvarum and Kazachstania unispora. Nevertheless, by simulating the passage of isolated strains through the gastrointestinal environment, it was observed that they could not be considered probiotics. The results indicate that, in an isolated way, the yeast presents in kefir samples, in the city of Santa Maria, RS, can´t be considered probiotics according to the tests performed

Leveduras: Diversidade em Kefir, Potencial Probiótico e Possível Aplicação em Sorvete.

Kefir is a product made by the symbiotic fermentation of different microrganisms, resulting in a product with microbiological characteristics, physicochemical and sensory unparalleled. Bacterias, mainly of the gene Lactobacillus, and the yeasts are the main microrganisms that give rise of this product. The genres Kluyveromyces and Saccharomyces are the largest representatives of the yeasts found at Kefir’s microbiot. In relation of the probiotic potential of the yeasts, the one sold in drug form by mouth, is the Saccharomyces boulardii, however, researches are showing that other genres, other species and new strains of yeasts also had promising probiotic potential, but the researches don’t tell the application of this new probiotic yeasts in food. The aim of this review involved the achievement of a bibliographic review about different species and strains of yeasts found at Kefir’s samples by differents authors at the global level. The probiotic potential of yeasts was also studied, as well as the capability of probiotic microrganisms being added to ice cream. With conclusion it can be said that countless strains of yeasts are present in the Kefir’s symbiotic complex and, some of this possibly submit probiotic potential, that could being incorporated into ice cream, once the food have wide consumer acceptance and don’t uses the fermentation process in it’s preparation.O kefir é um produto elaborado a partir da fermentação simbiótica de diferentes micro-organismos, resultando em um produto com características microbiológicas, físico-químicas e sensoriais inigualáveis. Bactérias, principalmente as do gênero Lactobacillus, e leveduras são os principais micro-organismos que dão origem a este produto. Os gêneros Kluyveromyces e Saccharomyces são os maiores representantes das leveduras encontradas na microbiota do kefir. Em relação ao potencial probiótico das leveduras, a única comercializada, em forma de medicamento via oral, é a Saccharomyces boulardii, entretanto, pesquisas vêm demonstrando que outros gêneros, outras espécies e novas cepas de leveduras também apresentam promissor potencial probiótico, porém as pesquisas não relatam a aplicação destas novas leveduras probióticas em alimentos. O objetivo desta revisão envolveu a realização de uma revisão bibliográfica sobre diferentes espécies e cepas de leveduras encontradas em amostras de kefir por diferentes autores à nível mundial. O potencial probiótico de leveduras também foi estudado, bem como a potencialidade de micro-organismos probióticos serem adicionadas ao sorvete. Com conclusão pode-se afirmar que inúmeras cepas de leveduras estão presentes no complexo simbiótico do kefir e, alguma destas possivelmente apresente potencial probiótico, podendo ser incorporada á sorvetes, uma vez que o alimento tem ampla aceitação de consumo e não utiliza o processo de fermentação na sua elaboração

Enhancement of the Functional Properties of Mead Aged with Oak (Quercus) Chips at Different Toasting Levels

Consumers increasingly prefer and seek functional beverages, which, given their characteristics, provide important bioactive compounds that help prevent and treat chronic diseases. Mead is a traditional fermented alcoholic beverage made from honey solution. The aging process of mead with oak chips is innovative and bestows functional characteristics to this beverage. Thus, in this study, we sought to develop and characterize a novel functional beverage by combining the health benefits of honey with the traditional aging process of alcoholic beverages in wood. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity were analyzed in mead using oak chips at different toasting levels and aged for 360 days. LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS was used to analyze the chemical profile of different meads. Over time, the aging process with oak chips showed a higher total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity. Eighteen compounds belonging to the classes of organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins were identified in meads after 360 days. Our findings revealed that the addition of oak chips during aging contributed to p-coumaric, ellagic, abscisic, and chlorogenic acids, and naringenin, vanillin, and tiliroside significantly impacted the functional quality of mead

Effect of Microwave Power on the Zn 2 SnO 4 Synthesis and Its Use for Photodegradation of Phenol

Abstract: Spinel structure Zn 2 SnO 4 was successfully synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal process. The effects of the microwave power on the formation and physical properties of the Zn 2 SnO 4 particles are discussed. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and N 2 adsorption. The results indicated that the microwave power had important influence on the formation of the spinel phase. The results also revealed that the physical properties of Zn 2 SnO 4 particles did not change with the increase of the microwave power above 600 W, with 20 min of reaction time. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the Zn 2 SnO 4 particles for the phenol degradation under sunlight was also investigated