INSTITUTIONAL SEMINAR
Obtaining bioplastics from rice husks
The Institute of Modeling and Technological Innovation (IMIT) held another scientific update session. On this occasion, Dr. Andrea Natalia Pila, Principal Researcher at CONICET in IMIT (QUIMOBI) and professor at FaCENA, presented a talk entitled "From Waste to Product: Valorization of Rice Husk Hydrolysate through Microbial Fermentation for the Production of Bioplastics."
The activity generated significant interest due to its direct impact on environmental sustainability and regional technological development, proposing value-added alternatives from rice industry byproducts.
Circular Economy and Biotechnological Processes
During the presentation, Dr. Pila detailed a comprehensive valorization strategy based on the selective recovery of xylose through a pretreatment process combining formic acid and HCl. The resulting hydrolysate was conditioned and used as a carbon source for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) using the bacterium Priestia megaterium.
The seminar analyzed process optimization parameters, the influence of inhibitory compounds, and the characterization of the resulting biopolymer. The presentation demonstrated the feasibility of integrating lignocellulosic fractionation and bioconversion within an efficient biorefinery scheme.
"Transforming today's waste into the sustainable materials of the future is key to the technological development of our region," it was emphasized during the event, reaffirming the institute's commitment to applied science.
From the Institutional Seminars Coordination of IMIT, we thank all the researchers, teachers, and students who joined the virtual room and contributed their questions to the enriching scientific exchange.