Graduation Projects
Ph.D. Projects
Fev 2017- Ongoing
Title: Photocatalytic biocidal-foam filters for fluids pollutants removal
Description:
IFluid contamination with persistent organic pollutants (e.g. VOCs, pesticides) and emerging contaminants (PPCPs), together with microorganisms (biofouling) cause serious environmental/economic penalties and health risks on several applications (e.g. water circuits, air conditioning). This work concerns the develop a multifunctional non-toxic solution able to mitigate those pollutants/contaminants in water circuits, through the development of new non-toxic photocatalytic and biocidal polymeric systems for surfaces filters protection, following innovative approaches such as: i. development of enhanced (co)-doped TiO2-based photocatalysts for PPCPs removal in water streams; ii. functionalization of biocidal agents (ex. Econea) to acquire grafting ability to polymeric systems; iii. incorporation and immobilization of functional agents in polymeric systems (e.g. coatings). For the immobilization of functional agents in polymeric matrices (coatings/foams) a previously developed process will be applied (WO2016/093719 A1).
Physicochemical/mechanical properties of the functional systems will be assessed. Proof-of-concept in term of antimicrobial activity against several microorganisms and photocatalytic performances will be performed at simulated conditions.
2007-2010
Ph.D. Student: Olga Ferreira
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Supervisor: E. R. Silva
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Co-supervisor: Prof. João Gomes (IST)
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Sponsor (Ph.D. Grant): Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) under the Ph.D. Grant in Chemistry: PD/BD/128370/2017 and CATSUS Programme.
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Host Institutions: Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL) - granting Institution, and Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa (IST).
Feb 2017- Nov 2021
Title: Overcoming environmental problems associated with antifouling agents: synthesis of Nature-inspired nontoxic agents and immobilization in polymeric coatings
Description:
Protection surface strategies against biofouling have been widely pursued. To date, chemical control is the most effective strategy. Traditional countermeasures against marine fouling are coatings containing antifouling toxicants that have severe environmental consequences on marine ecosystems. This project presents an innovative strategy in compliance with the global aim to provide eco¬friendly antifouling coatings: synthesize new non¬toxic nature¬inspired sulfated compounds with antifouling activity and immobilize them through a new immobilization technology. Four main tasks include: synthesis and scale¬up, antifouling performance assessment, determination of biophysicochemical parameters and biodegradation studies, bioactive compounds immobilization in coatings, tasks integrated in a broader FCT funded project (PTDC/AAGTEC/0739/2014). Thus, this PhD work will have a considerable environmental and economic impact, especially in industries that move the world: energy and transportation.
Ph.D. Student: Ana Neves
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Supervisor: Prof. Marta Correia da Silva (FFUP)
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Co-supervisor: E. R. Silva
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Sponsor (Ph.D. Grant): Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), under the Ph.D. Grant in Medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry: SFRH/BD/114856/2017.
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Host Institutions: CIIMAR at Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto (FFUP, granting Institution) and Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL).
Master Projects
Feb 2020 - Jan 2021
Title: Eco-friendly cyclam based coatings for biofouling prevention
Description:
Environmental concerns have been demanding new eco-friendly solutions. In particular, biocides, applied as coatings in marine paints, are continuously released into the seawater becoming toxic and persistence extending their action to non-target biota, leading to serious side-effects in ecosystems. As a result, the international regulations have been limiting or even banned the use of effective agents, intensifying the need for non-toxic alternatives. This work will be focused on the development of a new non-toxic antifouling technology for marine industrial surfaces protection (e.g. ships hulls, platforms, etc.). Newly developed cyclam based agents will be tailored and immobilized in polymeric films, such as marine commercial paints. Antifouling efficacy and coatings properties will be assessed following international standards.
2007-2010
Master Student: Inês Nunes
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Supervisors: Luís Alves (IST), E. R. Silva (FCUL)
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Host Institutions: Instituto Superior Técnico (IST, granting Institution) and Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL).
Feb 2019 – Oct 2019
Title: Antimicrobial cyclam agents for water bio-decontamination
Description:
Waterborne systems contamination with aquatic organisms (biofouling), for instance with pathogens, is associated with serious environmental and economic penalties. Particularly, in water supply and/or treatment circuits it can lead to subsequent serious human infections, becoming a major public health concern (e.g. E. coli). The most effective bio-decontamination strategies comprise the controlled release of toxic and cumulative bioactive agents into the water, which imply limited life cycle, significant ecotoxicity, and promotion of human pathogens resistance.
This work aimed to develop new antimicrobial alternative by tailoring new cyclam derivatives to generate non-toxic protective coatings for the protection of industrial submerged surfaces in water systems, such as structured water filters. The most promising bioactive coating were assessed in terms of antimicrobial efficacy either at the lab and simulated conditions.
Master Student: Stephanie Almada
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Supervisors: Luís Alves (IST), E. R. Silva
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Host Institutions: Instituto Superior Técnico (IST, granting Institution) and Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL).
