Rui Boaventura
Rui Boaventura graduated in Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) in 1969 and joined the Department of Chemical Engineering of FEUP as Research Technician in 1972. In 1979 he moved to the research career starting as Research Assistant. Later in 1986 he obtained the PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Porto after defending a thesis on Biological Denitrification in Biofilm Reactors. He continued the research career until 2010, the year he retired as Principal Investigator. However, he remains collaborating with FEUP as co-supervisor of doctoral theses and is an integrated member of LSRE-LCM. He supervised or co-supervised 23 PhD theses and more than 40 MSc dissertations and coordinated more than 20 research projects funded by both public and private entities. He was a member of the Assembly of Representatives and of the Scientific Council of FEUP, integrated the Executive Board of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and was Director of the Department of Chemical Engineering of FEUP, Director of the MSc in Environmental Engineering, Director of the Integrated MSc in Environmental Engineering and Director of the Doctoral Program in Environmental Engineering.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Pollution prevention and mitigation
Processes for pollution control: Advanced oxidation; Biosorption; Biodegradation
Waste valorisation by anaerobic digestion
PATENTS
I.M.A. Saraiva, M.A.F. Fonseca, V.J.P. Vilar, T.F.C.V. Silva, R.A.R. Boaventura, Method of treating leachate, phototreatment reactors and respective use. EU Patent 2784031, March 2014.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
F.C. Moreira, J. Soler, A. Fonseca, I. Saraiva, R.A.R. Boaventura, E. Brillas, V.J.P.. Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for sanitary landfill leachate remediation: Evaluation of operational variables. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 182, 161-171, 2016
G. Ungureanu, S. Santos, R. Boaventura, C. Botelho. Arsenic and antimony in water and wastewater: Overview of removal techniques with special reference to latest advances in adsorption. Journal of Environmental Management, 151, 326-342, 2015
B.M. Souza, M.W.C. Dezotti, R.A.R. Boaventura, V.J.P. Vilar. Intensification of a solar photo-Fenton reaction at near neutral pH with ferrioxalate complexes: A case study on diclofenac removal from aqueous solutions. Chemical Engineering Journal, 256, 448-457, 2014
C.S.D. Rodrigues, L.M. Madeira, R.A.R. Boaventura. Synthetic textile dyeing wastewater treatment by integration of advanced oxidation and biological processes - Performance analysis with costs reduction. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2, 1027-1039, 2014
F.C. Moreira, S. Garcia-Segura, V.J.P. Vilar, R.A.R. Boaventura, E. Brillas. Decolorization and mineralization of Sunset Yellow FCF azo dye by anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton, UVA photoelectro-Fenton and solar photoelectro-Fenton processes. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 142-143, 877-890, 2013
V.J.P. Vilar, F.C. Moreira, A.C.C. Ferreira, M.A. Sousa, C. Goncalves, M.F. Alpendurada, R.A.R. Boaventura. Biodegradability enhancement of a pesticide-containing bio-treated wastewater using a solar photo-Fenton treatment step followed by a biological oxidation process. Water Research, 46, 4599-4613, 2012
T.A. Pozdniakova, J.C. Costa, R.J. Santos, M.M. Alves, R.A.R. Boaventura. Anaerobic biodegradability of Category 2 animal by-products: Methane potential and inoculum source. Bioresource technology, 124, 276-82, 2012
V.J.P. Vilar, E.M.R. Rocha, F.S. Mota, A. Fonseca, I. Saraiva, R.A.R. Boaventura. Treatment of a sanitary landfill leachate using combined solar photo-Fenton and biological immobilized biomass reactor at a pilot scale. Water Research, 45, 2647-2658, 2011
A. Bhatnagar, V.J.P. Vilar, C.M.S. Botelho, R.A.R. Boaventura. Coconut-based biosorbents for water treatment - A review of the recent literature. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 160, 42005, 2010
A.P.M. Tavares, R.O. Cristóvão, A.S. Ribeiro, J.M. Loureiro, R.A.R.Boaventura, E.A. Macedo. Application of statistical experimental methodology to optimize reactive dye decolourisation by commercial laccase. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 162, 1255-1260, 2009
C.S.D. Rodrigues, L.M. Madeira, R.A.R. Boaventura. Treatment of textile effluent by chemical (Fenton´s Reagent) and biological (sequencing batch reactor) oxidation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 172, 1551-1559, 2009
S.C.R. Santos, R.A.R. Boaventura. Adsorption modelling of textile dyes by sepiolite. Applied Clay Science, 42, 137-145, 2008
V.J.P. Vilar, C.M.S. Botelho, R.A.R. Boaventura. Methylene Blue Adsorption by Algal Biomass Based Materials: Biosorbents Characterization and Process Behaviour. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 147, 120-132, 2007
V.J.P. Vilar, C.M.S. Botelho, R.A.R. Boaventura. Equilibrium and kinetic modeling of Cd(II) biosorption by algae Gelidium and agar extraction algal waste. Water Research, 40, 291-302, 2006
V.J.P. Vilar, C.M.S. Botelho, R.A.R. Boaventura. Influence of pH, ionic strength and temperature on lead biosorption by Gelidium and agar extraction algal waste. Process Biochemistry, 40, 3267-3275, 2005
R.J.E. Martins, R. Pardo, R.A.R. Boaventura. Cadmium(II) and zinc(II) adsorption by the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica: Effect of temperature, pH and water hardness. Water Research, 38, 693-699, 2004
A.M.F.M. Guedes, L.M.P. Madeira, R.A.R. Boaventura. Fenton Oxidation of Cork Cooking Wastewater – Overall Kinetic Analysis. Water Research, 37, 3061-3069, 2003
R.J.E. Martins, R.A.R. Boaventura. Uptake and release of zinc by aquatic bryophytes (Fontinalis antipyretica L. ex. Hedw.). Water Research, 36, 5005-5012, 2002
A.A.M.G. Monteiro, R.A.R. Boaventura, A.E. Rodrigues. Phenol biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida DSM 548 in a batch reactor. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 6, 45-49, 2000
H.M.V.M. Soares, A.A.S.C. Machado, J.C.G. Esteves da Silva, R.A.R. Boaventura. Sediments as monitors of heavy metal contamination in the Ave river basin (Portugal) – Multivariate analysis of data. Environmental Pollution, 105, 311-323, 1999
SELECTED PROJECTS
AdvancedLFT - Technology for the Treatment of Leachates from Landfill Leachates through Integration of Biological Oxidation and Photo-Chemical Oxidation Processes, combining Natural and Artificial Radiation.
Reference: SI IDT - 33960/2012 F2. Funded by: ANI – Agência Nacional de Investigação,
Projectos de I&DT em Co-Promoção. Starting Date: 2013/06/30. Duration: 24 months. Role: Researcher
AQUAPHOTOBIO - Solar Photocatalytic Degradation of Antibiotics: Chemical, Ecotoxicological and Biodegradability Assessment.
Reference: PP-IJUP-2011-180. Funded by: Universidade do Porto Starting Date: 2012/12/31. Duration: 12 months. Role: Researcher
LFOTOBIO - Pre-industrial plant with an integrated photocatalytic (40 m2 CPCs)/biological oxidation (3 m3) systems for the treatment of leachates, installed at a sanitary landfill in the north of Portugal.
Reference: FEUP/EFACEC/2012/05. Funded by: EFACEC Engenharia e Sistemas, S.A. Starting Date: 2012/07/31. Duration: 6 months.
ValorPeixe - Valorization of byproducts and wastewaters from fish canning industry.
Reference: SI IDT - 13634/2010. Funded by: Agência de Inovação, S.A.,
SI IDT - Sistema de Incentivos de I&DT - Projectos de I&DT em Co-Promoção. Starting Date: 2011/01/01. Duration: 30 months. Role: Researcher
Elimination of micropollutants with antimicrobial activity from wastewaters.
Reference: PTDC/AAC-AMB/113091/2009. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,
FCT Project. Starting Date: 2011/03/31. Duration: 36 months. Role: Researcher
HIDROCORK - Use of Cork Wastes and By-Products for the Elimination of Oils and Fats from Waters.
Reference: SI IDT - 13493/2010. Funded by: Agência de Inovação, S.A.,
SI IDT - Sistema de Incentivos de I&DT - Projectos de I&DT em Co-Promoção. Starting Date: 2010/09/01. Duration: 27 months. Role: Coordinator
FOTOSOLAR - Effluents Detoxification and Water Pre-Treatment by Solar Photocatalysis.
Reference: FEUP/EFACEC/2009/03. Funded by: EFACEC Ambiente Starting Date: 2009/03/30. Duration: 9 months. Role: Researcher
NATURA MIÑO-MINHO - Valorization of the Natural Resources of the Minho/Miño Drainage Basin.
Reference: 0234_NATURA_MIÑO_MINHO_1_E. Funded by: Autoridade de Gestão do Programa Operacional de Cooperação Transfronteiriça Espanha-Portugal Starting Date: 2009/01/01. Duration: 30 months. Role: Researcher
SOLÁGUA - Desinfection of water by solar photocatalysis using a pilot plant with Compound Parabolic Collectors (CPCs).
Reference: FEUP/ADDP/2007/03. Funded by: Águas do Douro e Paiva, S.A. Starting Date: 2007/11/02. Duration: 12 months. Role: Coordinator
Study of the Activated Sludge Process in Oxidation Ditches: Mass Transfer Enhancement and New Computational Tools for Simulation and Design.
Reference: PTDC/AMB/65983/2006. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,
I&DT - Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos. Starting Date: 2007/11/01. Duration: 39 months. Role: Researcher
Recycling of metal contaminated waters by biosorption on to marine algal biomass and industrial algal wastes.
Reference: POCI/AMB/57616/2004. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,
I&DT - Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos. Starting Date: 2005/01/01. Duration: 36 months. Role: Coordinator
SWIM - Optimization of air quality in indoor swimming pools and its relation with water disinfection programme.
Reference: POCI/AMB/59630/2004. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,
I&DT - Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos. Starting Date: 2005/01/01. Duration: 36 months. Role: Coordinator
Bioremediation of soils and waters contaminated with pesticides.
Reference: POCI/AMB/59836/2004. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,
I&DT - Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos. Starting Date: 2005/09/01. Duration: 41 months. Role: Researcher
Performance assessment and optimization of Lever WWTP as concerns nutrients removal.
Reference: OF/QLD/83/05. Funded by: Águas do Douro e Paiva, S.A. Starting Date: 2005/04/18. Duration: 12 months. Role: Coordinator
Hydrodynamic and chemical reaction studies on the pre-oxidation process in the contact tank of Lever water treatment plant.
Reference: OF/ASE/119/04. Funded by: Águas do Douro e Paiva, S.A. Starting Date: 2004/06/01. Duration: 12 months. Role: Coordinator
Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto
(+351) 225 081 669
