Evaluation of the Biodegradation of Effluent Contaminated with Gasoline and Diesel Fuel using Mixed Culture

In the city of Uberlândia, there are terminals for gasoline and diesel fuel from the Paulínia refinery. From these terminals, the fuels are distributed to the Midwest and North Brazilian regions via tanker trucks. During the fuel loading procedure, gasoline and diesel can be spilled in the supply courtyard. The wash water used to cleanup the courtyard and trucks is released into two ponds located at the bottom of the terminal. This study aims to acclimatize four mixed cultures to effluent, select the best culture, and evaluate the biodegradation capacity of the effluent contaminated with diesel fuel and gasoline as well as the operating time.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

Hydrogen Production Study from Biological Routes using Microalgae

Biohydrogen production has been studied using agricultural residues as a substrate for algae. Dark and light fermentation are carried out in tower reactor and stirred-tank reactor, evaluating CO2 capture and bio-oil production from marine algae and freshwater algae.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

 

Biosurfactants Production using Isolated Yeasts from Brazilian Cerrado and the Antarctic via Solid Fermentation of Sugarcane Bagasse

The project aims to produce biosurfactants using different yeasts strain from Brazilian Cerrado and Antarctic regions on semi-solid fermentation supported by sugarcane bagasse.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

Biosurfactants Production by Soybean Molasses for Chromium Removal from Tannery Effluent

This project studies the biological production of biosurfactants from soybean molasses and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The biosurfactant will be applied to dissolved air flotation for chromium removal from contaminated effluent.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

 

Performance Evaluation for Tower Reactor and Fed-Batch Reactor in Alcoholic Fermentation using Flocculent Yeasts

This project aims to investigate ethanol production from sugarcane juice and molasses musts using flocculent strains to evaluate the fermentative capacity, reactor dynamics, cells sedimentation capacity, and process parameters such as fermentation productivity and yield.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

 

Study of Phosphate Biosolubilization using Aerated Reactor

An alternative to the traditional chemical processing for phosphate rock solubilization is using microorganisms as solubilizing agents for insoluble phosphate. Soil microorganisms, especially the heterotrophic ones, can mobilize insoluble forms of inorganic phosphates. The biosolubilization of phosphate rock with low-grade phosphorus is becoming a promising alternative for phosphate rock from processing residues that still have insoluble phosphorus concentration compatible with microorganisms as well as for low-grade phosphorus deposits.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

Bioproducts from Glycerol Reutilization

The project studies glycerol fermentation for biosurfactants, biopolymers, and organic acids production using fungi from Brazilian Cerrado and mixed culture from contaminated ponds by petroleum products.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

 

Biodiesel Processing using Membranes

This project aims to study separation processes using microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis membranes for bioproducts. The project is associated with catalysts production and immobilization on membranes for biodiesel production and purification.

The project is funding by CNPq

 

Ceramic Hollow Fiber Membranes Development

Ceramic membranes present several applications and high thermal, chemical, and mechanical resistance as an advantage. The hollow fiber-type geometry enables maximizing the membrane packing density. This project investigates different kinds of material and process parameters to produce ceramic hollow fiber membranes. The membranes are fabricated in different specifications allowing several interesting applications.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

 

Palladium and Palladium Alloys Membranes Development and Application for Hydrogen Permeation

Environmental and economic aspects are increasingly promoting the search for cleaner alternative fuels as hydrogen. The pressure swing adsorption is the main hydrogen separation process. As an alternative, the membrane separation process can be applied to hydrogen purification. In this way, the project proposes to investigate the membrane separation process for hydrogen purification. Composite membranes will be produced by deposition of metallic membranes on asymmetric alumina hollow fiber.

The project is funding by FAPEMIG

 

Purification and Concentration of Bioactive Compounds from Fruits and Vegetables

Brazil presents fruits variety and a lack of study enabling better use. This project proposes fruits and vegetable processing with high bioactive compounds. The project aims to promote research as well as increase the Brazilian fruits sales and marketing with higher added value. In addition, it will study the compounds purification and concentration by membrane filtration process using commercial membranes.

The project is funding by CNPq

 

Biochemical Engineering

Physico-chemical and Biological Analysis Lab

The Physico-chemical and Biological Analysis Laboratory is used to analyze gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and ion chromatography; total carbon, organic and inorganic carbon; Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR) for liquid and solid samples; analytical balance (precision of ± 0.00001g); and UV-visible spectrophotometry analysis.

 

Biochemical Lab

The Biochemistry Laboratory (LABIO) is used to investigate the bioleaching or biosolubilization of phosphate rock from processing residues and low-grade phosphorus deposits. The tests apply different fungal strains collected, selected, and developed by the research group as well as acidophilic bacterial strains in air-lift bioreactors for submerged fermentation. The biosolubilization of phosphate rocks using effluents with organic acids from other processes as fermentative bio-hydrogen production is also developed. The laboratory is equipped with shaking incubators and bench-top shakers where the fermentation processes for biosurfactants production using glycerol and soy molasses are carried out in Erlenmeyer flasks. In addition, membrane sintering experiments are also conducted at high temperatures using a muffle furnace and a high-temperature furnace.

Coordinador: Patrícia Angélica Vieira

E-Mail:patriciavieira@ufu.br

Tel: +55 34 3230-9537

Location: Federal University of Uberlândia, Santa Mônica Campus, Bloco 1K, Room 105, Av. João Naves de Ávila, 2121, Uberlândia – MG, CEP 38400-902

 

Applied Microbiology Lab

The Applied Microbiology Laboratory is used for repeated sub-culturing of microorganisms as well as to prepare and manipulate the solutions that require a fume hood. The experiments are focused on the first-generation ethanol production using sugarcane juice and molasses with flocculant and non-flocculant strains, the fermentation processes at low temperatures and industrial temperature, and the first-generation bioethanol production from sweet sorghum juice in bioreactors. It is also investigated the bioleaching or biosolubilization of phosphate rock from processing residues and low-grade phosphorus deposits using rotary drum bioreactors with different fungi strains. The laboratory is also equipped with a unit to evaluate the hydrogen permeability on membranes. The atomic absorption spectrometry is also carried out to evaluate the measurement of the toxic metal.

Coordinador: Ubirajara Coutinho Filho

E-Mail: ucfilho@ufu.br

Tel: +55 34 3230-9531

Location: Federal University of Uberlândia, Santa Mônica Campus, Bloco 1K, Room 106, Av. João Naves de Ávila, 2121, Uberlândia – MG, CEP 38400-902

Fermentation Process Lab

The Fermentation Process Laboratory stores microbial culture strains for the biotechnological processes research group. The studies are based on fermentation processes for second-generation bioethanol production such as solid-state and submerged fermentation; purification and concentration of enzymes for second-generation ethanol production; second-generation ethanol production by submerged fermentation using different biomass substrates and different strains for hydrolysis of C5 and C6 sugars. The studies also investigate the enzymes for second-generation ethanol production using Brazilian Cerrado strains. In this laboratory, rheological and lyophilization analyzes are also carried out.

Coordinador: Juliana de Souza Ferreira

E-Mail:julianasf@ufu.br

Tel: +55 34 3230-9535

Location: Federal University of Uberlândia, Santa Mônica Campus, Bloco 1K – Room 102, Av. João Naves de Ávila, 2121, Uberlândia – MG, CEP 38400-902

 

Enzymatic Technology Lab

The Enzymatic Technology Laboratory is used to investigate enzymes production, characterization, and immobilization such as lipases, beta-galactosidase, L-asparaginases as well as the enzyme complex produced by fungi from Brazilian Cerrado and the glycerol reuse for bioproducts production.

Coordinador: Eloízio Júlio Ribeiro

E-Mail: ejribeiro@ufu.br

Tel: +55 34 3230-9526

Location: Federal University of Uberlândia, Santa Mônica Campus, Bloco 1K, Room 101, Av. João Naves de Ávila, 2121, Uberlândia – MG, CEP 38400-902

 

Photo-Fermentation and Cellular Technology Lab

The Photo-Fermentation and Cellular Technology Laboratory evaluate the production of ethanol, hydrogen, and bio-oil using microalgae.

Location: Chemical Engineering Research Laboratory at Av. Dr. Laerte Vieira Gonçalves, 2858, Room 107, Segismundo Pereira, Uberlândia/MG.

Tel: +55 34 3236-2876

 

Membrane Separation Process Lab

The Membrane Separation Process Laboratory is equipped with several types of equipment for membranes production and application, such as instrumented permeation modules, an extrusion system to produce hollow fibers membranes, a gas permeation system, a high-temperature furnace for membrane sintering, among others. In addition, an analysis structure for products characterization is also available.

Location: Federal University of Uberlância, Santa Mônica Campus, Bloco 1K, Av. João Naves de Ávila, 2121.