An invention created by Emeritus Professor Alírio Rodrigues and Professor Ana Mafalda Ribeiro from LA LSRE-LCM in partnership with Total Petrochemicals France and Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) is the first patent “made in U.Porto” to reach a patent grant in South Korea.

The created invention focuses on “Pressure swing adsorption” method which involves a solid material as an adsorbent for separation processes in petrochemical industry. This adsorbent created by KRICT has an advantage since has different affinities with different compounds used in the process. In Petrochemical industry, streams usually contain a mixture of nitrogen and monomers such as propylene. Different affinities of nitrogen and propylene with the adsorbent enables the separation of the compounds.

This ecological solution which has lower energy consumption owed by this adsorbent, is an attractive technology for the Petrochemical industry.

The patent of this innovation, which involves 10 researchers from 3 institutions, Associate Laboratory  LSRE-LCM/FEUP, KRICT and TOTAL, was granted in Europe, United States and South Korea.

More info:
https://noticias.up.pt/inovacao-made-in-u-porto-quer-revolucionar-a-industria-petroquimica/

The swearing-in ceremony of Professor Fernando Pereira as Full Professor took place on March 12, 2020, in the presence of FEUP Director, Professor João Falcão e Cunha, and other colleagues from FEUP's direction and from the Chemical Engineering Department.

LSRE-LCM wishes Professor Fernando Pereira a long and successful tenure.