11-16: A fuzzy interpolator for modeling the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose

Monday, April 29, 2013
Exhibit Hall
Carlos A. G. Suarez, Felipe F. Furlan, Renan G. C. Marques, Inti D. Cavalcanti-Montaņo, Pedro L. M. Aquino, Ruy Sousa Jr and Roberto C. Giordano, Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil
The objective of this work is the development of a fuzzy interpolator for modeling the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. The interpolator is based on simple “local” semi-mechanistic kinetic models. The aim is to obtain an overall model covering a broad range of hydrolysis conditions. Several experimental data from previous studies, for various types of lignocellulosic material, were used to develop the interpolator. These experimental data were grouped using the Fuzzy C-Means clustering technique. Based on the clustering, a fuzzy system was generated for the interpolation of different simple semi-mechanistic models. Fresh experimental data from the enzymatic hydrolysis of a synthetic substrate was used for validation of the algorithm. For this validation test, Accellerase ® 1500, donated by Genencor®, was used. Two cellulosic materials were utilized to compose the synthetic validation substrate: qualitative filter paper (Satelit, Brazil) and in natura sugarcane bagasse donated by the Center for Sugarcane Technology (CTC, Piracicaba, Brazil). The synthetic substrate was prepared after mixing in natura sugarcane bagasse and filter paper (1:1, w/w). The validation experiment was carried out in triplicate, in Erlenmeyer flasks, adding 20 FPU.g-1cellulose of Accellerase ® 1500, at pH 4.8. The experiments were run for about 30 minutes using a refrigerated incubator (Marconi MA-832) with agitation (250 rpm), at 50oC, setting the initial substrate concentration at 5.7% (wcellulose/wtotal). The obtained results indicate that the interpolator is a promising alternative to extend to different cases the application of models initially fitted for specific situations.