Research Activity in Chemical Engineering
What sparked your interest in chemical and process engineering, and how has this long academic and scientific journey been so far?
The journey hasn't been that long; I’m not that old! :) But to answer your question: I believe my interest in Chemical Engineering began with my father, who was also a Chemical Engineer. Although he worked in a sector—leather tanning—that didn’t seem particularly attractive to me, especially for environmental reasons, the technological and process aspects intrigued me. This interest was solidified during my secondary education, where I developed a strong interest in technological areas, particularly mathematics. I also enjoyed chemistry, which made it clear that this would be the field I would pursue. In 1988, I enrolled at IST (the same institution where my father graduated), and completed my Chemical Engineering degree in 1993, specializing in processes and industry.
During my studies, I developed a particular liking for Chemical Technology (which in other countries corresponds to what we call Chemical Engineering), which is quite distinct from Applied Chemistry. This interest led me to pursue a PhD at IST in Chemical Engineering, focusing on heterogeneous catalysis/chemical reaction engineering, which I completed in January 1998.
After a brief stint at what was then known as the Technological and Nuclear Institute (where I did a post-doc), I joined FEUP in 1999 as an Assistant Professor. I was tenured in 2004, became an Associate Professor in 2011 (after completing my aggregation exams in January 2020), and was promoted to Full Professor in 2022. All my activities at FEUP have been within the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Sustainability, green energy, and energy efficiency are recurring themes in your research. In your opinion, what are the major current opportunities in chemical engineering to promote and capitalize on sustainable practices?
For about 11 years, I was the director of Chemical Engineering courses at FEUP (Integrated Master’s and, more recently, Bachelor’s, and Master’s). When presenting these programs to secondary school candidates, parents, or current students, I consistently emphasized that it is a broad field with many professional opportunities. All the major societal challenges require technological contributions, particularly from Chemical Engineering due to its wide scope. Themes like sustainability, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, among others, require significant input from Chemical Engineering. For instance, the UN Sustainable Development Goals highlight major opportunities for Chemical Engineering to promote and capitalize on sustainable practices. Some essential areas include: health, water and air treatment and management, renewable energy utilization, industrialization and decarbonization, innovation, building sustainable cities, adopting circular economy practices, and combating climate change.
Could you share with the U.Porto scientific community the research areas that currently interest you the most and why?
The answer to this question is in the previous one. I believe Chemical Engineering has and will continue to play a crucial role in society, addressing significant societal challenges. Therefore, topics related to: i) CO2 capture and valorization, ii) developing more sustainable industrial processes (e.g., hydrogen production and purification without relying on fossil fuels), iii) adopting circular economy practices, and iv) combating pollution, particularly water (but also air) pollution, are recurring themes in my research. Among these, CO2 capture and conversion into methane has attracted interest from several national and international partners; recently, we received a prestigious international award from the French multinational Air Liquide, which will fund a project for the next 3-4 years (more information here). However, I am also interested in other areas, such as the use of alternative energy carriers to hydrogen (e.g., ammonia, which is a “hot topic”) and the valorization of biogas.
How do you foresee the evolution of chemical engineering in the coming years, especially in terms of innovation and environmental impact?
Chemical Engineering contributions must always align with societal needs, so innovation in new materials, products, and more efficient processes will continue. For broad issues like those discussed throughout this interview, multidisciplinary teams and methodologies are essential, along with the use of new tools (e.g., artificial intelligence) and close collaboration with professionals from other fields. I am confident that Chemical Engineering will continue to have a tremendous impact in terms of innovation and environmental impact. Recall that I mentioned earlier the inspiration from my father who worked in the leather tanning industry? This sector has declined in recent decades due to environmental concerns, but companies that have innovated and minimized their environmental impacts have succeeded and continue to thrive. I believe this will be the future of Chemical Engineering—evolving towards innovation and development of new materials, products, and processes with reduced environmental impacts.
In your opinion, how can academia further enhance and promote the development of green technologies, beyond focusing on science and research?
Academia has already been doing this but must strengthen its connection to industry and society. I have always believed and acted on this principle. We should bring new themes and actions aligned with current issues to the University. Incorporating innovation and themes related to “green technologies” into curricula is one example, so that our graduates (not just researchers) are aware of these issues and can contribute effectively to society. Additionally, we need to foster continuous dialogue with industry and society to ensure that research does not remain confined within academic walls.
Currently you coordinate the scientific activities of LEPABE. What would you say are the Laboratory's major ambitions for the near future?
LEPABE is a research unit with a rich legacy of great leaders (Professors Carlos Costa, Luís Melo, and Arminda Alves) and has always been rated as Excellent by FCT. The “inheritance” I received is significant, but we have a great asset—the human resources. We are about 250 people with diverse backgrounds, allowing us to cover numerous themes that require truly multidisciplinary teams, which is crucial for advancing research. The major ambitions of the unit are to continue asserting itself nationally and internationally, aiming to project itself as a solid and coherent unit. However, we face challenges, including increasing and diversifying funding and consolidating stable careers for our researchers. I approach these challenges with optimism and confidence that we will continue to grow sustainably, ensuring well-being and stability for researchers, and enhancing our external projection.
Research largely depends on resources and funding. In your opinion, what are the major challenges faced by researchers and R&D institutions, and how can we overcome these challenges?
As mentioned in the previous question, one of the biggest challenges I foresee for LEPABE, and for researchers and R&D+i institutions in general, is human resources and funding. The critical mass in Portugal, and particularly at U.Porto, is of very high level—our training is on par with the best universities globally, providing our graduates with unique qualifications. However, we lack incentives to retain and attract talent. For example, the amounts for PhD scholarships are insufficient. We need to invest more or provide additional support (e.g., accommodation subsidies, tuition waivers, etc.—looking at examples from other institutions worldwide). On the other hand, we should continue efforts to ensure greater stability in scientific employment (it doesn’t make sense for people in their 30s or 40s to remain in precarious situations with temporary contracts for many years). I understand that not everyone can have these career opportunities, so we need to encourage some young researchers to become entrepreneurs and seek opportunities in industry (which is increasingly capable and interested in absorbing some of the generated talent). Naturally, implementing many of these measures depends on available funding. If the State Budget for research and higher education does not increase, we must seek to diversify funding sources, particularly for research units, centers, and laboratories, which LEPABE has been doing for several years.
In 2015/16, you were awarded the Pedagogical Excellence Award, and in 2020, the Scientific Excellence Award (both from FEUP). Not only as a scientist but also as a Professor, mentor, and advisor, how would you like to see academia and research evolve in this essential partnership?
Throughout my career, I have aimed for a balanced dedication to both teaching and research, which was recognized by FEUP with these two Excellence Awards. I take pride in being the first to achieve both recognitions, although others have also achieved them, which pleases me greatly. You are right in calling the connection between teaching and research a “fundamental marriage.” I would like to see academia and research evolve by promoting and strengthening this connection. For example, integrating research into teaching, bringing what we do in our laboratories into the classroom, and showing students what is being done in our research centers are ways to enhance this integration.