Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: PAULA DANIELE RIBEIRO AZEVEDO

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : PAULA DANIELE RIBEIRO AZEVEDO
DATE: 15/09/2025
TIME: 09:45
LOCAL: Via Google Meet
TITLE:

EVALUATION OF THE BIOENERGETIC AND BIOACTIVE POTENTIAL OF MARINE MICROALGAE ISOLATED FROM THE ESTUARY OF PARAÍBA STATE

KEY WORDS:

Microalgae; terpenes; antioxidant activity; phenolic compounds

PAGES: 67
BIG AREA: Engenharias
AREA: Engenharia Química
SUBÁREA: Processos Industriais de Engenharia Química
SPECIALTY: Processos Bioquímicos
SUMMARY:

Intense technological development, combined with population growth and increased global purchasing power, has significantly contributed to increased energy demand, the intensification of fossil fuel use, and, thus, worsening associated environmental impacts.

In this scenario, the appreciation of renewable natural resources as a sustainable alternative is growing. Microalgae stand out among these resources and emerge as a strategic raw material with promising applications in the energy, cosmetics, agricultural, and pharmaceutical sectors.

These microalgae can be cultivated in integrated systems, using domestic and industrial effluents, and agro-industrial waste, which simultaneously allows for bioremediation and waste valorization. The biorefinery concept applied to microalgae enables the extraction of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and pigments, adding value and making the production of biofuels and inputs for other segments economically viable. Among the various routes for harnessing microalgal biomass, thermochemical conversion, particularly pyrolysis, has proven highly promising for the production of biofuels and byproducts of industrial interest.

In addition to thermochemical routes, the use of lipids accumulated by microalgae for biodiesel production has gained significant attention, as some species can accumulate more than 50% of their dry biomass in the form of triacylglycerols. These lipids can be converted into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) through transesterification, producing high-quality biodiesel that is competitive compared to fossil fuels. Among the metabolites of greatest interest are terpenes, compounds derived from isoprene metabolism that exhibit broad structural and functional diversity. Microalgae contain a range of monoterpenes and triterpenes, with properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as applications such as fragrances, natural insecticides, and drug precursors. Although their exploitation is still in its infancy compared to other groups of metabolites, the production of terpenes by microalgae cultivated in controlled systems represents a sustainable and innovative alternative to traditional plant extraction. Thus, the integration of biomass energy recovery and the exploration of bioactive compounds, such as terpenes, reinforces the potential of microalgae as a strategic resource for applications in various production chains.

In this context, the development of sustainable processes for the cultivation and extraction of bioactive compounds is essential to expand their application, reduce dependence on synthetic inputs, and boost production chains based on bioeconomy and sustainability. Thus, this thesis aims to bioprospect marine microalgae species isolated from the estuary of the Northeast region of Brazil. These species are still underexplored and have potential applications in various industrial sectors, such as energy, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, animal nutrition, and agriculture. Emphasis will be placed on their ability to produce terpenes.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1346198 - EVERALDO SILVINO DOS SANTOS
Interno - ***.656.434-** - CARLOS EDUARDO DE ARAÚJO PADILHA - UFRN
Externa à Instituição - BRUNA MARIA EMERENCIANO DAS CHAGAS - UFRN
Externa à Instituição - CRISTIANE FRANCISCA DA COSTA SASSI - UFPB