Title: Environment and Sustainability: Transforming Biomass into
a Resource Fibre waste management systems: opportunities,
costs and technology advisory resources”
Responsible: Dr. Pedro de Oliva Neto
Department of Biological Science – São Paulo State University
- UNESP - Assis – SP - Brazil Av. Dom Antonio 2100 – Assis –SP
CEP 19806-390 - poliva@assis.unesp.br
Project: Development of research with waste of sisal (Agave
sisalana Perrine) – Pharmacological properties.
Research carried out by UNESP in collaboration with:
- Common Fund of Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations
- Sindycate of industries of vegetables fibers of Bahia State
SINDIFIBRAS – Bahia – Brazil
- Secretary of Science, Technology and Invention of State
of Bahia - Brazil
Agreement signed by SINDIFIBRAS and FUNDUNESP
(Fundation of São Paulo State University) in May 2010.
• Researchers :
• Prof. Dr. Pedro de Oliva Neto - Coordinator (Biotechnology,
Microbiology)
• Prof. Dra. Lucinéia dos Santos (Toxicology, Pharmacology)
• Dra Ana Flavia Azevedo Carvalho (Microbiology , Biochemistry)
• Dr. Regildo Márcio Gonçalves da Silva – (Pharmacology Phytochemistry)
• Dra. Edislane Barreiros de Souza – (Genetic – Mutagenicity)
• Dra. Isabel Cristina Cherici (Cell Biology – Reproduction)
• Dr. Alvimar José da Costa (Insect Control – mits in animals)
• Dr. Carlos Amadeu Leite de Oliveira (Insect Control in agriculture)
• Dr. Antonio Carlos Maringoni (Phytopatology – Bacteriology)
• Dr. Daniel J. de Andrade (Insect Control in agriculture)
• Dra. Dejanira de Franceschi de Angelis (Ecotoxicity)
• Dr. Edson Luiz Lopes Baldin (Insect control in agriculture and
animals)
• New member: Dr. Marcelo Mattos Dinato ( Doctor specialized in preclinical and clinical tests).
Introduction
The Agave - plant originated from Yucatan - Mexico.
Precious fiber - for the manufacture of various utensils such as carpets, ropes, twine,
marine cables, bags, etc, and also for natural food source (feed) and alcoholic
beverages like a international tequila.
.
Agave sisalana Perrine (sisal) - the main hard fibre produced worldwide.
It was introduced in Brazil in 1903 (the largest exporter of this fibre in the world)
In Brazil - cultivation in states of Bahia (93.5%), Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte,
in a poor and semi arid region - small producers (family labor).
The sisal fibre - 100 million dollars is exported from Brazil and generate more than
half million jobs.
General Goal of this project
To study the technical use of sisal waste in order to
develop new commercial products contributing to sisal
workers.
Results of the Project
1. Data Process of Pulping and pressing Sisal leaves.
___________________________________________________________________
Sisal waste
%(dried w/w) Wet Mass
%
___________________________________________________________________
Total cut leaves (1 m in length): 1645
Total weight leaves:
580.0 kg
100%
Total wet fibres1:
65.2 kg
11.2%
Total full wet mucilage
14.6%
503.0 kg
86.7%
Loss
2.1%
Total liquid waste (sisal juice)2
5.0%
176.8 kg
30.5%
Total solid waste (EMT)3
18.1%
326.2 kg
56.2%
Liquid from process full mulcilage (EMS)
2.5%
378.0 kg
___________________________________________________________________
1. the pulping process of the leaves was 1 h. 2. after pressing and filtering the
mucilage 3. Solid waste from full mucilage after pressing and filtering the full
mucilage
The pulping machine
The sisal leaves
•
The pressing machine is very simple and economically viable (very low
cost) .
•
Press machine
• Chemical composition of sisal juice
Chemical determinations
Results
•
Total caloric value
Total Carbohydrates
Fiber
31.31 kcal/100g
7-12 g/100g
0 g/100g
Protein
0.31 g/100g
Fat
0.23 g/100g
Mineral Material
1.03 g/100g
Moisture
91-95 g/100g
Sodium (Na)
97.71 mg/kg
Flowchart of the treatments of mucilage from sisal leaves in
some products studied.
Preliminary cost for some products of sisal waste.
__________________________________________________
main products
operations
workers production
cost
in 8 h.
(reais)
___________________________________________________ _______________
EMS - Liquid from FM
pressing and filtration 2
3038 l. R$ 0.01/l
OJ - Original juice
pressing
2
1414 l. R$ 0.02/l
DP - Dried Precipitate centrifugation, drying
1
4.45kg R$ 9.73/kg
AP - Acid Precipitate
heating, acidification
and centrifugation
1
4.95kg R$ 14.92/kg
___________________________________________________________________
DP – R$ 15.00/1 worker (8 h)+ R$ 28.28 (cost of 1,414 l juice)
AP - R$ 15.00/ 1 worker (8 h)+ R$ 28.28 (cost of 1,414 l juice)
+ cost of H2SO4 34 l x R$ 0.90/l = R$ 30.6 total = R$ 73.88
Obs. Several costs is not considered (energy, depreciation, investiments, etc), but it is
calculating by an expert.
2. Biological tests
•
•
•
•
•
The preliminar study was divide in three categories depending on:
the results of analysis , degree of technical difficulties, costs and time demanded to become a
commercial product.
Category A – Products with high chances of commercial application.
1) Agent against mites on citrus (orange, lemon, tangerine).
2) Cream for mycoses.
3) Shampoo antifungal (antidandruff)
Malassezia ssp.
Class B - Products with intermediate chances of commercial application.
1) Antioxidant for use in cosmetic creams .
2) Action on inhibition of ticks.
3) Anti-inflammatory Action
5) Action contraceptive
4) Anti-parasitic nematodes of plants
Class C - Products that technically has no recommendation for further studies (due to showed very weak or non existent action for the target) .
1. Insecticidal action of sisal juice
against whitefly (attack leaves of legumes)
2. Antibacterial action against
Xanthomonas (phytopatogenic bacteria)
Toxicological studies of Sisal waste were:
• Ecotoxicity (Daphnia)
• Male Reproductive toxicity in rats
• Median Lethal Dose (dosage to kill 50% of the rats)
• Mutagenicity
Tests of antifungic activities of sisal waste .
Based on MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) test of several products
formulated by sisal waste .
MIC Test – Macrodilution of antimicrobial compounds
Microorganisms used:
Candida albicans (ATCC 10231)
Malassezia pachydermatis (ATCC 14522)
120
100
100
80
80
Inhibition (%)
Inhibition (%)
120
60
40
20
0
783
391
195
98
49
24
Concentration (µg/ml)
Natural juice
Dried precipitate
Wet precipitate
60
40
20
0
6250
3125
1563
783
391
Concentration (µg/ml)
Dried precipitate
195
98
Cost for the formulation of creams, lotion and shampoo from sisal
waste (Dried Precipitate).
Cream for C. albicans 60g
Shampoo antimycotic
100 ml
Cream for skin mycosis
60g
Lotion for nail mycosis
30ml
Mass of Sisal dried
precipitate for bottle
8.4 g
1.7g
1.03g
0.51g
Cost of dried precipitate
for bottle1
R$ 0.082
R$ 0.016
R$ 0.01
R$ 0.005
Cost of formulation more
bottle 2
R$1.13
R$ 2.18
R$ 1.0
R$ 1.00
Total cost (only the
formula and bottle)
R$ 1.21
R$ 2.20
R$ 1.01
R$ 1.00
Trade value
R$ 16.38 (Nystatin)
R$ 39.00 (cetoconazol)
R$ 18.00 (cetoconazol)
R$ 142.00 (12 ml)
Obs. Not included others cost like energy, governament taxes, transport and
employers for the cosmetic industry
Class A – Acaricide Effect of Sisal waste on mite Brevipalpus phoenicis,
(vector of citrus leprosis)
Experiments with direct effect of Agave waste on Brevipalpus phoenicis in 12 h.
______________________________________________________________________
Product
Concentr. Death efficiency vol/ha2
cost/ha
(R$)
______________________________________________________________________________
Original juice (5% solid)
100%
94-100%
4000 l.
80.00
2.7 time conc.juice (12% solid)
100%
100%
Dried Acid precipitate
2%
100%
80 kg 1194.00
Dried precipitate
0.2%
25-46%
EMT - Solid from Mucilage (18% sol.)
2%
37-46%
EMS – Liquid from Mucilage (2.5 % sol.)
80%
100%
3200 l.
64.00
1
cyhexatin (Sipcatin)
0,05%
100%
2 l.
300.00
Control (distilled water)
_____________________________________________________________________
Sipcatin is used 50 mL to 100 L of water or 1 liter of commercial product for 2,000 liters (or 0.05%)
of water and 2 liters per hectare – R$150/l. 2. volum spend per Hectare.
Flowchart of Pilot plant for waste sisal processing
Sisal leaves
4640 kg/day
Pulping
Fibre
522 kg/day
Full Mucilage
4024 kg/day
Dried Extract
4.43 kg/day
Cream for
Candidiasis
527 bg of 60g
p/ day
Shampoo
antimycotic
2605 fr of
100ml p/ day
Full Mucilage
dried on sun
and rehydratade
Extract from Full
mucilage - Acaricide
kg/day
1957,23020
kg/dia
Solid waste from
Full mucilage
1004kg/day
Category - Class B
1. Effect against nematodes . Family Strongylidae
gen.Strongylus
- Represents the main source of losses for Sheep farmers around the world. Other animals
are infected (ex. horses).
Method - Egg counts of nematodes (gastrointestinal strongyles) per gram of feces
(EPG) in sheep after treatment with the Acid Precipitate of sisal juice (dosage: 0.02
g/ml - 1 ml/ 10 kg of animal, de animal, administered orally.
Results :
the animal.
Reduction in average - 68.1% of number of eggs per gram of feces of
Conclusion: These results are preliminary but promising, since only one
treatment was used and only one dose. A more detailed tests are recommended.
PS. We do not test all products of sisal waste (EMT, EMS, Dried Precipitate)
Reproductive parameters of female ticks Rhiphicephalus
The most important arthropod in veterinary medicine as result of economic losses and
health problems.
Methodology: the reproductive parameters of female ticks were evaluated after treatmen
with the juice of sisal. The parameters analyzed were:
% reduction in oviposition,% reduction of hatchability, reproductive efficiency.
Products tested: Pure and diluted juice, Acid Precipitate (2%)
RESULTS:
% reduction in oviposition = results were not significant at different treatm.
% reduction of hatchability = Best result was with sisal juice (75% diluted in
water) – 47% reduction of hatchability and efficience of 57% in the ticks control.
Conclusion: The efficience in the control of ticks was limited however it is recommended
that a new research is conducted, in more depth.
Evaluation of antioxidant potential of concentrated juice of
Agave sisalana (Agavaceae).
Methodology based on the stable free radical DPPH and absortion of H +
quantified by Absorbance at 517 nm (spectrophotometry). 2.7 times
concentrated juice was used in several dilution.
_____________________________________
Concentrated juice
Antioxidant activity
____________________________________
0.05 %
3.31%
0.1 %
4.75%
0.5 %
13.9%
1.0 %
24.5%
2.5 %
57.8%
5.0 %
68.1%
10%
75.0%
_______________________________________
Conclusion:
Sisal juice has a potential for use
as a natural antioxidant for cosmetic
or other products depending on
more applied studies.
Sisal waste toxicity
• Acid precipitated from sisal juice showed:
• Spermicide action on rats if ingested.
• Ecotoxicity is considered high (superior of oil refinery,
so not recommended to discharge into rivers.
• Not mutagenic in dosages up to 100 mg/kg, superior
dosages was not tested.
• We need to test Liquid from Mucilage and Dried
precipitate toxicity.
Final Conclusion
This research especially with the insecticide and antimycotic activity, respectively,
with the products Liquid from full mulcilage and Dried Precipitate from sisal juice needs
to be continued.
The new steps will require a pilot plant for processing greater amount of full mucilage
to new tests in animals (field tests) and clinical tests in humans.
We believe this research points to a promising technology development from
sisal waste in order to obtain economic value and generating wealth and
welfare for the workers of sisal.
Thank You