The National Center for Energy and Materials Research (CNPEM) has just signed a partnership with Chinese state-owned giant Sinochem for research seeking technological alternatives to reduce the use of petroleum products in the production of fuels and other fossil-dependent products. . From two study fronts we seek to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and offer less polluting resources to the industry.

Sinochem is one of the largest energy and chemical conglomerates and currently operates over 300 subsidiaries worldwide. Operations in Brazil were started in 2011 with a focus on the oil sector, but the organization recognizes the strategic need to invest in renewable sources to continue to play a relevant role in the future.

The project, under the responsibility of the National Biorenewables Laboratory (LNBR), foresees an investment of R $ 3.7 million over two years to develop biochemical routes for ethanol production from agro-industrial waste and renewable hydrocarbons.

"For cellulosic ethanol, we will use our customized biological platform as well as recent discoveries that relate new enzymatic activities to develop a product capable of increasing the production of second generation ethanol, obtained from bagasse saccharification and other biomass," says Murakami.

LNBR researcher Leticia Zanphorlin explains that the focus is on a recent discovery of biochemical reactions to obtain long chains in alkenes. "When we think of producing renewable hydrocarbons using microbial platforms, we understand that enzymes are key players in the production of alkenes and alkanes, which are usually obtained from petrochemical routes," explains Zanphorlin.

The cooperation agreement involves CNPEM, EMBRAPII and Sinochem, and is the first research project done with the Chinese company. The scientific questions are coordinated by Mário Murakami and Leticia Zanphorlin in partnership with João Monnerat, the company's technical-scientific manager.

Sirius 

The partnership agreement could benefit from the Sirius laboratory to elucidate atomic level biochemical reactions that will be studied throughout the project.

Sirius, the new Brazilian synchrotron light source, will be the largest and most complex scientific infrastructure ever built in the country and one of the world's first 4th generation synchrotron light sources. It is designed to place Brazil in the world leadership of synchrotron light production and is designed to have the brightest of all equipment in its energy class. Synchrotron light sources are the most sophisticated example of open and multidisciplinary research infrastructure and are a key tool for solving issues of importance to the Brazilian academic and industrial communities.The versatility of a synchrotron light source enables the development of research in strategic areas such as energy, food, environment, health, defense and many others. This is why synchrotron light technology is becoming increasingly popular around the world. It is also why countries with strong, technology-based economies already have or are building one or more synchrotron light sources.