The 15th International Conference on the Fundamentals of Adsorption (FOA15) was sheld from May 18 to 23, 2025, at the Centro de Congressos da Alfândega do Porto, Portugal. Co-organized by Professor Alexandre Ferreira and  Professor Alírio Rodrigues (Honorary Chair) from LSRE-LCM/ALiCE at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) the event brought together leading researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to discuss the latest advancements in adsorption science and technology.

Several LSRE-LCM members were also part of the organizing committee, including Ana Mafalda Ribeiro, Diogo Rodrigues, and Fernando Pereira.

FOA15 featured a comprehensive program that included keynote lectures, oral and poster presentations, and an Adsorption School aimed at educating students and early-career researchers on the fundamentals and applications of adsorption processes. Topics covered ranged from molecular modelling and simulation of fluids in porous materials to the design of pressure swing adsorption systems for industrial gas separation processes. The conference also emphasized the role of adsorption in emerging areas such as energy systems, environmental applications, and life sciences.

In addition to the successful organization of the conference, Alexandre Ferreira was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Adsorption Society (IAS), further strengthening LSRE-LCM’s global presence in the field. More information is available on the IAS website.

For more information about the conference, please visit the official FOA15 website.

Rita Moreira Carvalho, member of LSRE-LCM/ALiCE and supervised by Professor Helena Passos, was awarded Best Poster Award at the International Symposium on Green Chemistry (ISGC 2025), held in La Rochelle from May 12 to 16, 2025.

Her winning poster, titled “Membrane-Based Approaches for the Efficient Separation of Platinum Group Metals”, highlights innovative research focused on sustainable and efficient methods for metal separation—an area of growing importance in green chemistry and resource recovery. This work is part of the nationally funded project PlatILPlus – Recovery and Separation of Platinum Group Metals and Rare Earth Elements from Spent Automotive Catalytic Converters, carried out by a collaborative team from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and the University of Aveiro.

The award was sponsored by IFP Energies nouvelles, recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of green chemistry.

Congratulations to Rita on this award!