Research areas

The research activity of the professors of the Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (PPGEQ) is developed around two lines of research: Process Systems Engineering and Clean technologies, materials and nanotechnology. They are detailed below.

  • Process Systems Engineering

    This research line involves the synthesis and analysis of processes and products characteristic of Chemical Engineering. Based on mathematical, computational and statistical knowledge, it includes the development of phenomenological, experimental and historical models, with the objectives of modeling, simulation, control, optimization, inference and monitoring of chemical and biochemical systems in general. In the end, the aim is to achieve a more efficient operation in relation to aspects of operational safety, clean production, productivity and water and energy consumption.

    Professor Research theme
    Andréa Oliveira Souza da Costa Empirical and Phenomenological Modeling. Exergy Analysis of Processes. Thermodynamics.
    Daniel Bastos de Rezende Development of biofuels production processes. Catalytic and thermochemical reactor projects. Transformation and reuse of biomass and other waste materials through thermal and catalytic processes.
    Éder Domingos de Oliveira Analysis of Chemical Systems and Processes: applications of thermodynamics, chemical analysis and kinetics, optimization methods, and mathematical modeling for the simulation of processes and characterization of chemical systems.
    Érika Cristina Cren Process engineering in the food industry; Bioprocess engineering; Separation and purification processes of biomolecules; Use of agro-industrial waste; Use of native, regional and nationally important raw materials for agribusiness.
    Esly Ferreira da Costa Júnior Process Modeling. Parameters Estimation. Mathematical and Numerical Methods. Optimization.
    Gustavo Matheus de Almeida Process monitoring, Fault detection and diagnosis, Chemometrics, Applied statistics, Data analysis, Data visualization, Multivariate statistics, Computational intelligence, Signal processing.
    Viviane Santos Birchal Processes development and optimization, waste utilization, separation and Concentration processes, drying, spray drying, mineral processing.
  • Clean technologies, materials and nanotechnology

    Works in this research area comprise experimental routes to develop new materials, including nanocomposites, nanofluids and nano-structured ones, aiming industrial applications and coating of different surfaces. They also develop clean technologies of energy generation, such as solid oxide for fuel cells. Rationale and sustainable processes with moderate use of natural resources are also envisioned, such as reuse of residues, membrane separation, enzyme immobilization and adsorption for application in a wide variety of industrial sectors. Characterization of physical, chemical, electrochemical, mechanical and transport properties are conducted, as well as biological activities, depending upon the desired application.

    Professor Research Theme
    Fernando Cotting New materials evaluation and corrosion control. Development and characterization of environmentally-friendly corrosion inhibitors and corrosion protection systems. Development and characterization of self-healing coatings and anticorrosive controlled release systems.
    Glaura Goulart Silva Advanced materials. Nanotechnology. Materials for the energy sector. Nanocomposites and nanofluids. Polymer composites. Research and Development.
    Kátia Cecília de Souza Figueiredo Adsorption, biofuels, biomolecules separation and purification, desalination, membrane separation processes, nanomaterials, natural gas, process integration.
    Luiz Orlando Ladeira Synthesis and Applications of Advanced Nanostructured Materials. Synthesis of carbon and gold nanohybrids for applications in bio-devices for diagnosis, photo catalysis and water purification. Nanostructured cementitious materials with carbon nanotubes for civil engineering applications. New routes for the production of graphene from plastic waste discarded in the trash.
    Manuel Houmard Nano-structured materials, Sol-gel synthesis, Porous materials, Thin films, Pollutants and water vapor capture, Photo-activity and wettability, TiO2-SiO2 system, Composite materials, Adsorbents, Advanced building materials.
    Rosa Maria Rabelo Junqueira Anodizing, colored stainless steel, corrosion, titanium alloys, corrosion, electrochemical behavior, surface functionalization, hydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces, anti-finger prints, performance of coated surfaces.
    Tulio Matencio Electrochemical properties of materials, Renewable Energy, Fuel Cells, Biosensors.
    Vanessa de Freitas Cunha Lins Development of new materials including nanocomposites for industrial applications, evaluation of physical, chemical and electrochemical and mechanical properties of materials, surface engineering techniques such as anodization, polymer coatings, metallic and inorganic coatings.