Produção de D-pantenol e D-pantotenato de cálcio a partir de alternativas sustentáveis de síntese e resolução óptica da pantolactona

Abstract

Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, is essential for human beings as it helps in the transformation of fats and carbohydrates in energy, while also being important for hormone and cholesterol regulation in the blood. It can be absorbed in various ways by the body, two of which being through D-panthenol in creams and lotions, and through calcium D-pantothenate in food, both being converted afterwards to B5 in the body. Together, both of these molecules comprise a consumer market with a worldwide demand of 30.000 tons annually, constituting constantly growing billion-dollar industries in the health, beauty and animal feed sectors, which in 2018 generated a combined annual revenue of more than R$ 600 billion. There are many production routes of these molecules, the main one being through the intermediate molecule pantolactone. In the case of this process, pantolactone is obtained through reactions between the raw materials glyoxilic acid, isobutyraldehyde and hydrogen gas. Afterwards, optical resolution of the molecule is necessary, through immobilized cells of Fusarium moniliforme. From this, it is possible to produce D-panthenol and calcium D-pantothenate by reacting this intermediate compound with 3-aminopropanol and beta-alanine calcium salt, respectively. Therefore, this work aims to implement an industrial plant for production and optical resolution of pantolactone and further transformation of this molecule into D-panthenol and calcium D-pantothenate, aiming at establishing an eco-friendly process. To this end, some solvents have been replaced by similar, but less harmful alternatives to humans and the environment, and maximum effluent recovery has been prioritized, minimizing unnecessary raw material consumption and effluent generation for treatment, as well as the presence of toxic compounds in the final product. With this, BelieVer Ltda., a company operating in the Brazilian market for animal feed, vitamin supplements, and beauty products, produces 345 and 383 tons of D-panthenol and calcium D-pantothenate annually, respectively, with an initial investment of R$ 68,9 million and generating an annual profit of R$ 76,8 million, becoming profitable from the 3rd year. Therefore, the present project is considered technically feasible and financially attractive.