Work by LEPABE team awarded Best Paper
Posted on March 15th, 2024
The article "A Potential Valorization Strategy of Wine Industry by-Products and Their Application in Cosmetics—Case Study: Grape Pomace and Grapeseed" was recipient of the Molecules 2022 Best Paper Award (2nd Prize), attributed by the journal Molecules (MDPI). The paper was selected among 9068 papers published in the journal, based on the overall evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, citations, and downloads.
This paper resulted from the work developed by Prof. Lúcia Santos and her team, from the Environmental Sciences and Technologies group of LEPABE. In this paper, the authors create and develop a face moisturizing cream, mainly composed of natural ingredients, and increase its value, by the addition of by-products from the winery industry, in order to valorize agricultural by-products while creating a more appealing product, increasingly sought after by consumers.
Access here to the awarded paper and prize page.
PhD Thesis by Susana Fernandes on biocidal formulation for effective biofouling control
February 9th 2024
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Susana Fernandes for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “ADevelopment of a biocidal formulation for effective biofouling control” supervised by Prof. Manuel Simões, defended on February 9th, 2024 FEUP.
LEPABE work highlighted by 90 seconds of science podcast
Posted on February 5th, 2024
Professor Belmira Neto, senior researcher at LEPABE, participated in the 90 seconds of science program, broadcasted by Antena 1, which gives voice to Portuguese researchers and their projects.
In this episode, Belmira Neto talks about the collaboration with the company TRIVALOR, to determine the carbon footprint of the meals produced by this company.
You can listen to the full podcast here.
FEUP Scientific Excellence Award 2023
Posted on February 2nd, 2024
The senior member of LEPABE, Prof. Francisco Xavier Malcata, was the recipient of this year’s FEUP Scientific Excellence Award, in the FEUP’s Day Ceremony, on January 19th, 2024.
Prof. Francisco Xavier Malcata was awarded the Scientific Excellence Award as recognition for his outstanding work in scientific research over the last 5 years.
Congratulations!
Know more here.
PhD Thesis by Teresa Gouveia on mitigation of cytostatic threats
January 16th 2024
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Teresa Gouveia for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Cost-effective technology to mitigate the cytostatic threat” co-supervised by Prof. Arminda Alves, defended on January 16th, 2024 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Tiago Araújo on Cellulose-based Carbon Molecular Sieve Membranes
December 20th 2023
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Tiago Araújo for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “High Performance Cellulose-based Carbon Molecular Sieve Membranes for Gas Separation: Processing, Structure and Performance Evaluation” supervised by Prof.Adélio Mendes, defended on December 20th, 2023 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Tiago Lagarteira on Electrochemical Technologies
December 19th 2023
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Tiago Lagarteira for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Electrochemical technologies for renewable energy storage”, defended on December 19th, 2023 FEUP.
Luís Miguel Madeira awarded by Air Liquide
Posted on December 7th, 2023
LEPABE project “CYCON - Cyclic device for continuous CO2 capture and conversion into CH4” was the winner of the 3rd edition of the Air Liquide Scientific Challenge, in the topic “Energy storage using essential small molecules”. The 3 winners (the other two in different topics) were selected from an universe of 119 proposals from 29 countries, by a Jury panel of 8 members, well known and recognized in the scientific and industrial community.
The Air Liquide Scientific Prize, in the value of 50 000 €, was attributed to the project leader Prof. Luís Miguel Madeira and to his team: Dr. Miguel Soria, Dr. Cláudio Rocha and PhD student Joana Martins, in the award ceremony that happened on November 29th, near Versailles. In addition to this prize, their scientific work will be entirely financed by Air Liquide, as part of a 3-4 years project, in order to develop their innovative proposal and to transform it into market-ready technology.
Congratulations! Know more about the prize here.
LEPABE team awarded in the BIP PROOF Programme
Posted on December 14th, 2023
LEPABE Researchers, Dr. Cláudio Rocha, Prof. Luís Miguel Madeira, Dr. Miguel Soria and PhD student Pedro Cerqueira were awarded in the 6th edition of the Business Ignition Program (BIP) PROOF (2023/2024), promoted by U. Porto Inovação, with the project “HydroAzeite: valorisation of wastewater from olive oils mills”. This program aims to support proof-of concept projects to stimulate the achievement of valuable steps leading to the valorisation of promising research results.
The main objective of project HydroAzeite is to “optimize and apply a multifunctional hybrid reactor that combines the wastewater reforming reaction and the simultaneous removal of CO2 (reaction product) in a single device through a CO2-selective adsorbent”, something never done before at industrial level. In the researchers' opinion, using this method will bring numerous advantages to companies, in addition to being able to generate a new source of profit due to the production of H2 biofuel.
Congratulations!
More information can be found here.
Two LEPABE projects awarded at IJUP Empresas 2023
Posted on November 30th, 2023
IJUP Empresas 2023 selected 6 projects, of a total of 16 applications, to be funded as exploratory research projects with a multidisciplinary nature where two of those projects are led by LEPABE researchers. IJUP Empresas intents to get closer companies and research teams, to develop innovative ideas.
The project “Capture and recovery of CO2 directly from the air” will be financed by Galp, and is led by Prof. Adélio Mendes and Dr. Cátia Azenha, from the PPE group of LEPABE, and has 2 students from the Master in Chemical Engineering in their team.
The project “Nanotech supplementation natural compounds-based to improve the well-being of elderly pets” will be funded by Soja de Portugal, and is led by Dr. Joana Loureiro and Prof. Maria do Carmo Pereira, from the SA group of LEPABE, and has 2 students form the Master in Biomedical Engineering in their team.
Congratulations! Know more here.
LEPABE was granted new CEEC individual contracts in FCT 2023 call
Posted on December 5th, 2023
LEPABE congratulates the 5 researchers that were granted individual contracts in the 6th edition of the “Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus”. In this call, LEPABE achieved an approval rate of 23%, while the national approval rate was set in 14.6%, according FCT numbers.
Assistant Researchers:
- Berta Estevinho;
- Joana Loureiro;
Junior Researchers:
- Cátia Azenha;
- Fátima Santos;
- Rita Teixeira dos Santos;
Congratulations!
LEPABE member is a Highly Cited Researcher 2023
Posted on November 27th, 2023
Prof. Manuel Simões, senior researcher of LEPABE, was distinguished as Highly Cited Researcher 2023 by Clarivate - Web of Science.
This is a recognition of the pioneering researchers in different areas in the last decade, demonstrated by the production of multiple highly-cited papers that rank in the top 1 % by citations for field and year in the Web of Science. It is the fourth time in a row that Prof. Manuel Simões is recognized with this distinction. This year, the recognition is shared with other 4 scientists from the University of Porto, in a total of 19 researchers at national level.
Congratulations!
“by division and differentiation” film distinguished at Doclisboa
Posted on November 24th, 2023
The film directed and written by Carolina Grilo Santos as the result of the 3rd artistic residency of the project 2SMART was awarded the prize “Pedro Fortes Award for Best Green Years Portuguese Film” by Doclisboa - Internacional Film Festival on its 21st edition.
“by division and differentiation” is a speculative fiction, a document on daily life as an outsider. Presented as a video, this project is the result of a residency program, at the energy research laboratory at LEPABE, crossing scientific and artistic research that reveals imaging reflections, detected gestures, and alienated thoughts.
More information here.
Work by LEPABE team is highlighted as cover paper
Posted on November 17th, 2023
The article "On the Path to Sustainable Cosmetics: Development of a Value-Added Formulation of Solid Shampoo Incorporating Mango Peel Extract" is the cover image of the issue 5 of Cosmetics (Volume 10), a journal from MDPI.
This paper resulted from the work developed by a team led by Prof. Lúcia Santos, from the Environmental Sciences and Technologies group of LEPABE. In this paper, the authors present the development of solid cosmetics, such as natural shampoo bars, fortified with extracts from agro-industrial by-products, assessing their potential to replace commercial antioxidants. In this way, the saving and recovery of natural resources, as well as reducing waste, would be accomplished, contributing to a circular economy.
Access to the cover paper.
Piazzolla e Divas do Jazz
Posted on November 14th, 2023
LEPABE is one of the research units, in collaboration with ALiCE, that sponsors the Researchers’ Concert: Orquestra da Ópera na Academia e na Cidade + Nook "Piazzolla e Divas do Jazz".
This concert will take place on November 22nd, 2023, at FEUP’s auditorium (21:30 h) and is performed by the orchestra of the Academia and City Opera (OAC) and the jazz quartet Nook. Access to the Auditorium is free.
"Jazz Divas" seeks to find common ground between the magnitude of orchestral music and the simplicity of the vast majority of jazz standards eternalised by these figures, with the aim of highlighting the contribution of some female voices to the development and proliferation of vocal jazz as a musical style with a golden age in the first half of the 20th century.
Know more about this event here.
LEPABE was granted new Ph.D scholarships in FCT 2023 call
Posted on November 10th, 2023
LEPABE congratulates the 14 project researchers that were granted individual PhD scholarships in the national FCT call:
- Ana Sofia Fernandes
- Andrés Soto
- Carolina Maia
- Cristina Almeida
- Cristóvão Rocha
- Igor Resende
- Lília Teixeira
Congratulations to all!
- Manuel Figueiredo
- Maria Francisca Cardoso
- Mariana Sousa
- Marta Gomes
- Pedro Sousa
- Pedro Fernandes
- Sara Sousa
Sofia Gonçalves was awarded at IPPS 2023
Posted on October 24th, 2023
Sofia Gonçalves, PhD student at the Processes, Products and Energy group of LEPABE under the supervision of Prof. Luísa H. Carvalho and Prof. Fernão D. Magalhães, was the recipient of the “Harry Earl Memorial Award” at IPPS 2023 - International Panel Product Symposium, with her work entitled “VOC emissions from fast-curing particleboards made with lignosulphonate and pMDI binders”.
The IPPS is the leading technical conference on wood based panels, and was held in Llandudno, United Kingdom, from October 3rd to 4th, 2023.
Congratulations!
PhD Thesis by Ricardo Oliveira on the applications of nucleic acids mimics (NAMs)
October 20th 2023
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Ricardo Oliveira for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Application of nucleic acid mimics (NAM) in the selection of aptamers against staphylococcal enterotoxins” supervised by Dr. Carina Almeida, defended on October 20th, 2023 FEUP.
LEPABE researchers feature in Stanford ranking
Posted on October 20th, 2023
Several researchers from LEPABE are included in the list of the most cited scientists in the world released by Stanford University. The list contains all scientist who are among the top 100,000 across all fields or the top 2% of scientists of their main subfield discipline, according to their composite citation index when self-citations are not included.
LEPABE members included in the list for career-long citation impact up until the end of 2022 are: F. Xavier Malcata, Manuel Simões, Luís Miguel Madeira, Adélio Mendes, Luís Melo, Conceição A. Ferraz and Fernando G. Martins.
LEPABE members included in the list for the single calendar year of 2022 citation impact are: Manuel Simões, José Carlos Pires, F. Xavier Malcata, Luís Miguel Madeira, Anabela Borges, Nídia Caetano, Adélio Mendes, Olga Nunes, Berta Estevinho, Lúcia Santos and Joana Loureiro.
Congrats to all the researchers for their work as top level scientists! Check the lists here.
Joana Martins was awarded at ChemPor23
Posted on October 2nd, 2023
Joana Martins, PhD student at the Environmental Sciences and Technologies group of LEPABE, was the recipient of the “Young Scientist Flash Presentation Award” at Chempor 2023, with her presentation entitled “CO2 capture and valorization to synthetic natural gas – process integration”.
This is the major conference in Chemical Engineering organized in Portugal, and was held in Bragança, from September 12th to 15th, 2023.
Congratulations!
1st LegioFilms Seminar
Posted on October 4th, 2023
The Chemical Engineering Department hosted the 1st LegioFilms Seminar (26th September 2023), coordinated by the LEPABE/ ALiCE researcher Ana Alexandra Pereira (from the Biothecnology group - BEL), under the topic ‘Legionella, Biofilms and Legionellosis prevention’.
The seminar hosted more than 80 participants representing different agents involved in Legionellosis prevention including policy makers, industry, public health entities, consulting companies, hospitals, hotels (among others). Special emphasis has been given to the current legislation about Legionnaire’s Disease prevention and to the need to involve these different stakeholders on the discussion about the ‘Challenges in Legionellosis prevention in Portugal’. Given the pertinence and multidisciplinary of the topic and the contributions that research can bring to the discussion on public policies, several follow-up actions are considered between the research team from LEPABE/ALiCE and the Directorate-General of Health (DGS).
PhD Thesis by Isabel Oliveira on control drinking water biofilms
September 8th 2023
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Isabel Oliveira for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Development of effective disinfection strategies to control drinking water biofilms” supervised by Prof. Manuel Simões, defended on September 8th, 2023 FEUP.
Ana Rita Pereira was awarded PSWS grant
Posted on September 22nd, 2023
Ana Rita Pereira, PhD student of the Biotechnology group of LEPABE participated in the 18th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, which was held in Athens, Greece, from August 30th to September 2nd, 2023.
At this conference, Ana Rita had the privilege of sharing part of her PhD work delivering an oral presentation entitled “Effects of parabens exposure on drinking water bacteria”. She was also the recipient of the Prince Sultan Water Specialist Event Participation Grant 2023. This grant supports the participation of early career scientists at conferences whose research is focused on innovative research in water-related topics.
Congratulations!
Member of LEPABE nominated as EFCE co-chair
Posted on September 8th, 2023
Prof. Luís Miguel Madeira, coordinator of LEPABE and researcher of the Environmental Sciences and Technologies Group of LEPABE, was recently unanimously elected as co-chair (secretary) of the WP-CRE (Working Party on Chemical Reaction Engineering) of the EFCE (European Federation of Chemical Engineering), for the period of 2024-2026.
The main purpose of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering is to promote co-operation in Europe and elsewhere between professional non-profit scientific and technical societies, aiming at the general advancement of science and public education in the field of Chemical Engineering.
On the other hand, the mission of the WP-CRE section is mainly focused on reinforcing European cooperation and professional activity within the EFCE community in the field of chemical reaction engineering.
Congratulations for this nomination!
Filipe Moisés was awarded "Best Poster Communication"
Posted on August 14th, 2023
Filipe Moisés, PhD student of the Processes, Products and Energy group of LEPABE participated in the Artificial Photosynthesis and Green Catalysis Conference, which was held at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland), from 17 to 19th of July, 2023.
His work entitled “Synergetic effect of Al:TiO2 underlayer and W doping on the performance enhancement of Ta3N5 photoelectrodes” was one of the awarded for the best poster category.
Congratulations!