Separation Processes, Hydrometallurgy and Environment

Objectives

The main objectives are the development of fundamental and applied research in the area of chemical processes, with emphasis on separation processes, with a special concern on the treatment of industrial residues and effluents.

The group also aims to pursue the transfer of technology to the Industry, by the development of new processes at bench scale with the scale-up to pilot and industrial scales. Moreover, the set-up of the pilot plant facilities will also allow the organization of training courses.

Main Research Areas

Liquid-liquid Extraction
Liquid Membranes: emulsion liquid membranes, hollow fibre techniques, Pseudo Emulsion membranes based on hollow fibers with strip dispersion.
De-watering / Integrated Filtration / Compression / Drying
Leaching, Biosorption, Cementation and Ion Exchange
Biofuels Production

Research projects

OURO– Recovery of Copper Gold, Silver and Palladium from electronic scrap (Recuperação de Cobre, Ouro, Prata e Paládio de resíduos de equipamento electrónico por métodos hidrometalúrgicos.) IAPMEI nº24120, Budget: 33,000€, (Company: HM consultores IST team: Jorge Carvalho (Coordinator); Remígio Machado) Abril 2014 – November 2014.

FURNAS “Quimical removal of Phosforus from the Furnas Lake: São Miguel, Azores “ Remoção Química de Fósforo da Lagoa das Furnas – São Miguel” Project funded by the company : EDA- Electricidade dos Açores, .Budget :81,720€ (IST team: Jorge Carvalho (Coordinator); Remígio Machado), June 2013 –Dezember 2014

ENERGREEN – Biomass liquefaction for use as fuel in cement kilns (Liquefacção de biomassa para utilização como combustível em fornos de cimento). ADI, Programme QREN, Nº30227; Budget: 256.124,03€ . (Company: CMP-Secil. IST team: João Moura Bordado (Coordinator), M. Joana Neiva Correia, Margarida Mateus, Rui Santos), 2013-2015.

FATFUEL– Use of animal fats for biodiesel production (Utilização de gorduras animais para produção de biodiesel); Budget: 36.5 k€. (Company: Enerfuel. IST team: M. Joana Neiva Correia (Coordinator), João Bordado, Carina Domingues), 2013-2014

TOMATE – Recycling for added value of tomato residues using a filter press with membrane plates. “Valorização do Repiso de tomate em filtro de prensa de membranas.” Project solely funded by the company Sugalidal, budget :60,000€. (IST team: Jorge Carvalho (Coordinator); Remígio Machado.) July 2012 –March 2013.

BGALVANIZAÇÃO – Integrated process treatment and recovery of exhausted pickling baths from the galvanizing industry” (Processo integrado de tratamento e valorização dos banhos esgotados de decapagem da indústria de galvanização), ADI, Programme QREN, Nº 13626. budget 617230.74 €. (Company: Eurogalva. IST Team: Jorge Carvalho (Coordinator); Remígio Machado, Teresa Reis; Rosinda Ismael)., 2011-2014.

IBERDIESEL – “Development and application of new processes for biofuels production – Project: 003089 – Funding Programme QREN, Portugal: 953,905€.(Company: Iberol. IST Team: João Bordado (Coordinator); Filipe Freire; Maria Joana Neiva Correia; Ana Paula Dias; Carlos Henriques), 2009-2012″.

BIORVOIL – Novos processos de purificação de óleos vegetais para utilização como combustíveis. ADI, Programme QREN nº 5340, Budget 458,755 k€. (Company: MultiRecolha; IST team: João Moura Bordado, M. Joana Neiva Correia, Fátima Farelo) 2010-2013

ZINCO – “Treatment of zinc concentrates” ( Tratamento de concentrados de zinco). ADI, Programme PRIME – IDEIA, Nº 70/00191, 2007. Total budget 315889 €. (Company: Somincor / Eurozinc. IST Team: Jorge Carvalho (Coordinator); Maria Joana Neiva Correia; Maria Teresa Reis; Maria Rosinda Ismael), 2007-2008

DRECHE – “Environmental technologies for the valorisation of spent grain from brew industry” ( Tecnologias ambientais para a valorização de resíduos da indústria cervejeira). ADI, Programme PRIME – IDEIA – 3rd Call, Nº 70/136, 2005. Total budget 238269 €. (Company: Unicer. IST Team: Jorge Carvalho (Coordinator); Licinio Ferreira; Teresa Reis; Paulo Correia, Remígio Machado. 2006-2008 .

FATDIESEL – “Production of biodiesel from animal fats” ( Produção de biodiesel a partir de gorduras animais). ADI, Programme PRIME DEMTEC, Nº 70/225, 2006. Total Budget: 189893 € (IST: 20000 €). Coordinator: M. Joana Neiva Correia . SPACE-ECO-Combustíveis. 2006-2008.

AMBIRES – “Environmental tecnologies for the removal of phenol and formaldehyde from phenolic resin plant effluents” (Tecnologias ambientais para a remoção de fenol e formaldeído de efluentes industriais de resinas fenólicas). ADI, Programme POCI – IDEIA – 2nd Call, Nº FDR 1292, 2003, Total budget: 133300 €.(Company: FUNDIPOR. IST Team: Jorge Carvalho (Coordinator); Maria Teresa Reis; Maria Rosinda Ismael. 2004-2007.

FCT Project: POCTI/EQU/61733/2004, “Recovery of Zn, In, Ga, Ge from Neves-Corvo zinc concentrate” (Recuperação de Zn, In, Ga, Ge do concentrado de zinco de Neves-Corvo). Total budget: 72000 €. (IST Team: M. Rosinda Ismael (Coordinator); Jorge Carvalho; Maria Joana Neiva Correia; Maria Teresa Reis; 2005-2008.

Laboratory Facilities

Laboratories- Level 10, South Tower

	Batch reactors		Atmospheric leaching Biodiesel production Biomass liquefaction
	NIR and MIR Spectroscopies		Alternative analytical methods
	Hollow fibre membrane contactors		Non-dispersive solvent extraction and pseudo-emulsion with strip dispersion
	Autoclave		Pressure Processes Leaching Studies Biodiesel Production
	Modified Lewis cell with vibrational mixing		Kinetic studies on liquid liquid extraction
	Ozonizer		Advanced oxidation processes

Laboratories- Level 02,01,00 South Tower

Pilot Plant Units

Two Khüni columns Two packed columns Two pulsed columns
Rotating disc contactors (RDC)
Mixer-settlers
Plate heat exchanger
Electrowinning cells

Filter press with membrane plates and thermal drying under vacuum
Continuous plant for Biodiesel production