This document discusses how microwave and ultrasound technologies can be used to intensify biocatalysis processes for bioethanol and biodiesel production. It explains that microwave and ultrasound heating can improve reaction rates and mass transfer, allowing reactions to be carried out faster and with less energy input than conventional heating methods. The document reviews how these technologies have been shown to enhance specific steps in biodiesel production, such as transesterification, as well as cellulose hydrolysis and fermentation steps in bioethanol production. It concludes that microwave and ultrasound technologies represent promising options for green process intensification that can reduce costs while increasing productivity and conversion yields for biofuel production.

1. Microwave and Ultrasound for Process
Intensification of Biocatalysis in Bioethanol and
Biodiesel Production
M. Sc. Camilo Barroso Teixeira
Food Engineer, Ph.D. Food Science Fellow
Bioprocess Laboratory, School of Food Engineering, University of
Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

3. World Context
• Biorefenery and biobased-economy
• Biodiesel and Bioethanol (first and second generation)
• Process intensification: Bioprocess performance enhacement
• Physical technologies combined with bioprocess: Green
engineering
• Microwave and ultrasound: Improve catalysis and
biocatalysis

4. Microwave
• Electromagnetic radiation between 300 MHz and 300 GHz,
• Provides energy to carry out chemical reactions,
• Improves homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis in organic
reactions,
• More efficient for energy transfer than conventional heating,
• Reduces reaction time and energy cost,
• Common in such areas as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry,
biochemistry, polymer chemistry, catalysis, photochemistry, and the
inorganic chemistry of materials

8. Ultrasound
• Acoustic waves
• Improves mass transfer in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems;
• Cavitation provides high localized energy for catalysis;
• Improves conversion rates, short reaction times with mild reaction
conditions;
• Permits application on food bioactive compounds extraction;
enzymatic and chemical catalysis;

9. Biodiesel
• Alkyl fatty esters derived from vegetable oils and animals fats;
• Produced mostly by alkaline alcoholoysis;
• Ultrasound and microwave showed to improve conversion rate and
reaction time;
• Synergistic effect between the two Technologies;
• It also showed good results in biodiesel enzymatic transesterification;

10. Documents published in Scopus database

11. Alkaline Catalysis (KOH)

12. Reaction Time

14. Correlation Energy x Reaction time

15. Synergistic effect

18. Microwave-assisted enzymatic catalysis

20. • 90% conversion yield with Liposyme RM at 60ºC, 100W ultrasound
irradiation and 4 hours of reaction

21. Bioethanol (first and second generation)
• First generation: Produced by sucrose fermentation;
• Second one: Produced firstly by cellulose hydrolysis followed by
sucrose fermentation;
• Simultaneous saccharifaction and fermentation (SSF)
• Microwave and ultrasound application for enhance cellulose
hydrolysis rate;

23. Ultrasound-assisted fermentation enhances bioethanol
productivity (3.5-fold than control))

25. Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass
Ultrasound enhanced cellulase production by T. reesei
Ultrasound enhanced ethanol production by S. cerevisiae

29. Conclusions
• Microwave and ultrasound may be the next generation of industrial
technologies for heat and mass transfer;
• Its robustness permits applicattion in many industrial reaction processes;
• The two Technologies have showed excelent results in bioethanol and
biodiesel processes;
• The two Technologies have showed excelent results in enzymatic and
microbial catalysis
• Physical Technologies which contributes for green intensification
process;
• It reduces energy cost and enhances productivity;

30. Thank You!