Newton Fund: From orange waste to chemicals: contributions of an integrated biorefinery approach towards sustainable development in Brazil

迫切需要在级联循环经济中使用可再生资源，以创建可持续的生产和加工系统。在这种情况下，生物精炼厂是至关重要的，作为将生物质转化为多种增值产品的设施，使用各种“低”价值的当地原料创建灵活的零废物网络，并为生物经济做出重大贡献。该合作项目的主要目标是加强绿色化学卓越中心（英国约克大学GCCE）和天然产物研究小组（巴西<s:1>奥卡洛斯联邦大学NPRG）之间的研究网络，围绕基于生物炼制和绿色化学概念的巴西柑橘链废弃物的增值。将使用SEI绿色经济小组开发的方法对拟议的整个巴西柑橘链生物精炼厂进行技术经济和环境评估，包括生命周期评估，包括食品、能源、水、环境和社会影响。这两个小组的初步研究表明，橙子废料中有广泛的有价值的化合物，可以在实验室和大规模使用绿色提取和配方技术经济地回收和改性（包括类黄酮、果胶、纤维素、d-柠檬烯、松油醇、蜡、烷烃、糖等，可作为个人护理产品、香精和香料、化妆品、营养药品、生物溶剂的添加剂）。生物聚合物和驱虫剂的活性成分)。然而，需要进一步探索和推进柑橘链废弃物的综合生物精炼方法，特别是考虑到巴西具体的经济、社会和环境特征，并进一步开发高价值化合物的潜在用途。在这个项目中，活动（研讨会、会议、课程、讲座和科学会议）和短期研究停留将旨在转移知识和技术专长，这对于在GCCE和NPRG小组之间建立长期合作伙伴关系至关重要，他们被认为是世界各地各自专业领域的参考（例如，GCCE的绿色技术和废物价值化，NPRG的可持续农业和自然昆虫控制）。在这些小组之间建立联系的目的是产生立竿见影的结果以及未来关于橘子废料开发的研究建议，从而促进巴西的可持续发展。这一创新举措还将支持一个新的绿色化学和可持续发展卓越中心的发展，该中心位于<s:1>奥卡洛斯（SP），是全球绿色化学中心网络（G2C2）的正式成员。该中心将促进和深化学术界、政府和工业部门之间的对话，帮助建立一个装备更好的社区，在巴西境内围绕可持续性和绿色化学开发优秀的研究成果和相关活动。

There is a pressing need for the use of renewable resources within cascading circular economies to create sustainable production and processing systems. Within this context, biorefineries are vital, as facilities for the conversion of biomass into multiple value-added products, creating flexible, zero waste networks using a variety of 'low' value local feedstocks and contributing significantly to a bio-economy. The main objective of this collaborative project is to strengthen the research network between the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE, the University of York, UK) and the Natural Products Research Group (NPRG, Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil) around valorization of the Brazilian citrus chain waste, based on biorefinery and green chemistry concepts. A techno-economic and environmental assessment of a proposed whole Brazilian citrus chain biorefinery will be performed using methods developed by the SEI green-economy group, including Life Cycle Assessment, encompassing food, energy, water, environmental and social impacts. Initial studies within both groups indicate that there is a wide spectrum of valuable compounds within orange waste that can be economically recovered and modified using green extraction and formulation techniques at both a lab- and larger-scale (including flavonoids, pectin, cellulose, d-Limonene, terpineol, waxes, alkanes, sugars, among others that can be used as additives for personal care products, flavour and fragrances, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, bio-solvents, biopolymers and active ingredients for insect repellents). However, an integrated biorefinary approach to citrus chain waste needs to be further explored and advanced, particularly considering specific Brazilian economic, social and environmental characteristics and to further develop potential uses of higher value compounds. Within this project, events (workshops, conferences, courses, lectures and scientific meetings) and short-research stays will aim to transfer knowledge and technological expertise and will be of utmost importance in building long-term partnerships between the GCCE and NPRG groups, who are considered references within their areas of expertise across the world (e.g., green technologies and waste valorization at GCCE, sustainable agriculture and natural insect control at NPRG). The creation of links between these groups will aim to generate immediate results as well as future research proposals on orange waste exploitation, contributing to sustainable development in Brazil. This innovative initiative will also support the development of a new Centre of Excellence in Green Chemistry and Sustainability based in São Carlos (SP), as a full member of the Global Network of Green Chemistry Centres (G2C2). The Centre will promote and deepen dialogue between the academia, government and industry sectors, helping to constitute a better equipped community to develop excellent research outcomes and related activities around sustainability and green chemistry within Brazil.