Unicamp and Shell signed this Thursday (31/3) a partnership for research in the area of biofuels and biogas. The company will invest around R$6,1 million in the installation of a pilot plant for processing biomass and producing biohitane, a biogas enriched with hydrogen, which gives it greater energy potential. The research will be conducted by the Genomics and BioEnergy Laboratory (LGE), of the Biology Institute (IB), and by the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering (Feagri) at Unicamp.
The partnership was signed by the dean of Unicamp, professor Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, and by Alexandre Breda, manager of low carbon technologies at Shell. The project leaders, professors Gonçalo Pereira, coordinator of LGE, and Gustavo Mockaitis, professor at Feagri, participated in the event. Also present were the directors of the faculties, professors André Freitas (IB) and Angel Pontin Garcia (Feagri), and the executive director of the Unicamp Innovation Agency (Inova), Renato Lopes.
As determined by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP), companies in the sector must invest part of their resources in technological development research carried out by universities. According to Alexandre Breda, Shell's goal is to eliminate its carbon emissions by 2050, which depends on technologies focused on the use of biofuels. "A company cannot achieve this objective without the contribution of academia and governments. The partnership with the university is essential to bring technological solutions and to help us dialogue with society", he comments.
Graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Unicamp, Alexandre recognizes the University's vocation for developing technologies that meet market demands and contribute to the environment. "Returning to Unicamp gives me the certainty of being in a place that has innovation in its blood. Since I started as an undergraduate, around 25 years ago, Unicamp has always had this vocation. That's what made me choose it to attend engineering, and today as a research partner".
From methane to biohitane
Research carried out with investments from Shell will focus on two fronts: the installation of a pilot biomass processing plant to produce biohitane and the exploration of Agave biomass to obtain biofuels and biogas. Biohitane is a biogas obtained from anaerobic digestion processes in which there is a higher concentration of hydrogen compared to methane.
"Because it contains around 30% more hydrogen, biomethane has twice the energy potential. One liter of it has almost twice the energy of biomethane. When enriched by hydrogen, it is an extremely energetic gas", explains Gonçalo Pereira. The product has great value for the petrochemical industry, but research in the area is recent: "There is still no industrial production of biohitane. That's why Shell was interested."
The researchers also intend to investigate the potential of Agave biomass for biofuel production. The plant is used to produce sisal fibers and tequila, but is still little explored from an energy point of view. Studies are needed regarding the biochemical processes involved in its digestion by microorganisms and the way in which its biomass can be processed to obtain energy. "We want to study these processes on a micro scale in the Genomics and BioEnergy Laboratory and increase the scale of this at Feagri. In other words, develop a way to transform knowledge about Agave biomass and the microorganisms that will transform it into a pilot process , then on a semi-industrial scale and then on an industrial scale", details Gustavo Mockaitis.
As it is a species adapted to semi-arid regions, Agave is an option for the development of areas such as the northeastern hinterland. "To be economically competitive, we need cheap biomass. Agave is a plant with productivity similar to that of sugar cane, and whose cultivation can generate jobs, income and keep people in the countryside", argues Gonçalo.
The dean of Unicamp praised the innovative nature of the project and its connection with the country's demands. "The future of the energy transition is up for grabs today and we need to join this race. If we have the capacity to create technologies and science, linking our potential to social demands, we can have great global relevance", points out Antonio Meirelles.
