Produção e aplicação de complexos celulolíticos de trichoderma koningiopsis para a valorização biotecnológica de biomassas lignocelulósicas de sorgo e capim-elefante

Abstract

The valorization of lignocellulosic biomass represents a promising strategy for the development of sustainable bioprocesses, contributing to the production of bioenergy and high-value-added products within the framework of the circular bioeconomy. However, the high structural recalcitrance of these biomasses limits the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis, highlighting the need for more efficient enzyme systems adapted to different substrates. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the production and application of cellulolytic enzyme complexes produced by Trichoderma koningiopsis during solid-state fermentation, using sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) biomass as cultivation substrates. The influence of chemical pretreatments on enzymatic hydrolysis was also investigated, and the performance of the produced enzymatic extracts was compared with that of a commercial cellulase preparation. The results demonstrated that enzyme production was influenced by the characteristics of the biomass used during fermentation, with the highest cellulolytic activity being obtained from untreated sorghum biomass. In contrast, the chemical pretreatments employed did not enhance enzymatic activity during the direct hydrolysis of the biomasses. Solid-state fermentation also resulted in the simultaneous production of extracellular proteases, highlighting the complexity of the enzymatic system synthesized by T. koningiopsis. Overall, the findings demonstrate the potential of solid-state fermentation for producing substrate-dependent cellulolytic enzymes and reinforce the importance of optimizing cultivation conditions to obtain more efficient and stable enzymatic extracts. From an Environmental Sciences perspective, this research contributes to the sustainable valorization of abundant lignocellulosic biomasses, strengthening strategies for renewable resource utilization and the development of bioprocesses aligned with the principles of the circular bioeconomy and sustainable development.