José Carlos Lopes graduated in Chemical Engineering in 1977, at FEUP the Engineering School of the University of Porto. That same year, he joined the Chemical Engineering Department of FEUP as Teaching Assistant.

In 1979 he started his Ph.D. studies at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Houston (Texas, USA), and obtained the Ph.D. degree in 1984 under the guidance of the late Professor Abe Dukler in the area of Multiphase Fluid Mechanics. He then joined Schlumberger Ltd. as a Research Scientist where he worked at Schlumberger-Doll Research Center (Ridgefield, Conneticut, USA) until the end of 1986 and at Schlumberger Cambridge Research (Cambridge, UK) in 1987, conducting research in Well-Bore Multi-Phase Flows.

Returned to FEUP in 1988 and joined the R&D Unit LSRE. 2005 he founded Fluidinova, a spin-off from FEUP, the first nanoparticle-based products company in Portugal. In 2010, he was back at FEUP, teaching in the Chemical Engineering Department, and pursuing research at the Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM in the area of Product Engineering. Since 2012, he is a delegate member of the Working Party on Mixing, WPM, of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering, EFCE. In 2016, he was co-founder of a new spin-off company MICE, commercializing novel methodologies for RIM, reaction injection moulding, a plastics production technology.

In 2019, he was founder of a new Portuguese R&D organization, CoLAB Net4CO2 - Network for a Sustainable CO2 Economy, for the development of new processes and products, using the NETmix technology, to create significant contributions to the CO2 sustainable circular economy. Since September 2023, he joined the recently created STAR Institute as CTO, a new technology and innovation center focused on the automotive industry.

Author of eleven patent applications, with seven granted. Published >100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. Supervised 21 PhD theses and 13 MSc dissertations.

ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

Mixing in Chemical Reactors
Micro/Nano Structured Materials
CFD in Industrial Processes
NETmix – Novel Network Static Mixer/Reactor 
CIJs – Confined Impinging Jets 
HGtS – Gas Hydrates Technology
NanoMaterials Mass Production Technologies 
Microcapsules for Functionalized Textiles 
 
Microcapsules for Food and Cosmetic Industries
Thermal Simulation of Power Transformers 
Industrial Processes Project and Design

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Mixing in Chemical Reactors
CO2 Hydrates
Nanomaterials
Micro-Structured Materials
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Fluid Mechanics and Rheology

PATENTS

J.A.C.C. Santos, J.C.B. Lopes, F.G. Almeida, Placa de fecho para pré-carregamento de reator de placas, respetivos reator de placas e método de fabrico. EU Patent 19220292.7, December 2019. Portuguese Patent 116039 (Pedido Provisório), December 2019.
J.C.B. Lopes, M.M.G.Q. Dias, M.F.S. Costa, C.A.M. Teixeira, R.J.N. Santos, Continuous production of clathrate hydrates from aqueous and hydrate-forming streams, methods and uses thereof. PCT/IB2020/062552, December 2020. US Patent 17786968, June 2022. EU Patent EP4084894, December 2019. Portuguese Patent 116038, December 2019.
J.C.B. Lopes, R.J.N. Santos, M.M.G.Q. Dias, M.A.S.M. Yousuf, C.A.P. Fonte, Opposed jets mixing chamber for mixing fluids with different mass fluxes. PCT/IB2013/051380, February 2013. Portuguese Patent 106166, February 2012.
R.J.N. Santos, J.C.B. Lopes, M.M.G.Q. Dias, E. Erkoç, Device for pipe flow pulsation. PCT/IB2008/051365, April 2008. Portuguese Patent 103715, April 2006.
J.C.B. Lopes, R.J.N. Santos, A.F.T.M. Teixeira, M.R.P.F.N. Costa, Production Process of Plastic Parts by Reaction Injection Moulding and Related Head Device. PCT/IB2005/000886, April 2005. US Patent 7708918 B2, granted May 2010. EU Patent 1732747, December 2006, granted December 2006. Portuguese Patent 103101, April 2004.
J.C.B. Lopes, M.M.G.Q. Dias, V.M.T.M. Silva, P.A.Q.O. Santos, F.J.M. Monteiro, P.J.C. Gomes, A.Y.P. Mateus, Production Method for Calcium Phosphate Nano-Particles with High Purity and their Use. PCT/PT2007/000031, July 2007. US Patent 12159696, April 2009. EU Patent 2041025, July 2008. Portuguese Patent WO/2008/007992, July 2006.
J.C.B Lopes, P.E.M.S.C. Laranjeira, M.M.Q. Dias, A.A.A.Martins, Network Mixer and Related Mixing Process. PCT/IB2005/000647, February 2005. US Patent 8434933 B2, September 2008, granted May 2013. EU Patent 1720643, September 2006, granted October 2008. Portuguese Patent 103072, February 2004, granted December 2009.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

B.A. Marinho, R. Djellabi, R.O. Cristóvão, J.M. Loureiro, R.A.R. Boaventura, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes, V.J.P. Vilar. Intensification of heterogeneous TiO2 photocatalysis using an innovative micro-meso-structured-reactor for Cr(VI) reduction under simulated solar light. Chemical Engineering Journal, 318, 76-88, 2017 G. Ruphuy, A. Saralegi, J.C. Lopes, M.M. Dias, M.F. Barreiro. Spray drying as a viable process to produce nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan (n-HAp/CS) hybrid microparticles mimicking bone composition. Advanced Powder Technology, 27, 575–583, 2016 N.O. Gomes, C.P. Fonte, C.C. Sousa, A.J. Mateus, P.J. Bártolo, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes, R.J. Santos. Real time control of mixing in Reaction Injection Moulding. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 105, 31-43, 2016 C.P. Fonte, R.J. Santos, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes. An Elastic Analog Model for Controlling the Impingement Point Position in Confined Impinging Jets. AIChE Journal, 62, 2200-2212, 2016 M.P. Fernández-García, J.M. Teixeira, P. Machado, M. Enis Leblebici, J.C.B. Lopes, C. Freire, J.P. Araujo. Monitoring in real time the production of Fe-oxide nanoparticles. Chemical Engineering Science, 138, 600-606, 2015 M.J. Lima, M.E. Leblebici, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes, C.G. Silva, A.M.T. Silva, J.L. Faria. Continuous flow photo-Fenton treatment of ciprofloxacin in aqueous solutions using homogeneous and magnetically recoverable catalysts. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21, 11116-11125, 2014 C.P. Fonte, B.S. Pinho, V. Santos-Moreau, J.C.B. Lopes. Prediction of the induced gas flow rate from a self-inducing impeller with CFD. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 37, 571-579, 2014 M.A. Sultan, K. Krupa, C.P. Fonte, M.I. Nunes, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes, R.J. Santos. High-Throughput T-Jets Mixers: An Innovative Scale-Up Concept. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 36, 323-331, 2013 C.M. Fonte, M.E. Leblebici, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes. The NETmix reactor: Pressure drop measurements and 3D CFD modeling. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 91, 2250-2258, 2013 M.I. Nunes, R.J. Santos, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes. Micromixing assessment of confined impinging jet mixers used in RIM. Chemical Engineering Science, 74, 276-286, 2012 P.E. Laranjeira, A.A. Martins, M.I. Nunes, J.C.B. Lopes, M.M. Dias. NETmix®, a new type of static mixer: Experimental characterization and model validation. AIChE Journal, 57, 1020-1032, 2011 P.E. Laranjeira, A.A. Martins, J.C.B. Lopes, M.M. Dias. NETmix®, A New Type of Static Mixer: Modeling, Simulation, Macromixing, and Micromixing Characterization. AIChE Journal, 55, 2226-2243, 2009 P.J. Gomes, V.M.T.M. Silva, P.A. Quadros, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes. A Highly Reproducible Continuous Process for Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles Synthesis. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 9, 3387-3395, 2009 R.J. Santos, A.M. Teixeira, J.C.B. Lopes. Study of Mixing and Chemical Reaction in RIM. Chemical Engineering Science, 60, 2381-2398, 2005 R.J. Santos, A.M. Teixeira, M.R.P.F.N. Costa, J.C.B. Lopes.. Operational and Design Study of RIM Machines. International Polymer Processing, 42, 387-394, 2002 V.G. Mata, J.C.B. Lopes, M.M. Dias. Porous Media Characterisation Using Mercury Porosimetry Simulation. 2: An Iterative Method for the Determination of the Real Pore Size Distribution and the Mean Coordination Number. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, 40, 4836-4843, 2001 P. Spicka, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes.. Gas-Liquid Flow in a 2D Column: Comparison between Experimental Data and CFD Modelling. Chemical Engineering Science, 56, 6367-6383, 2001 P. Spicka, A.A. Martins, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes.. Hydrodynamics of Gas-Liquid Flow in 2D Packed/Unpacked Rectangular Reactor. Chemical Engineering Science, 54, 5127-5137, 1999 Z.P. Lu, M.M. Dias, J.C.B. Lopes, G. Carta, A.E. Rodrigues. Diffusion, Convection and Reaction in Catalysts Particles: The Analogy between Slab and Sphere Geometries. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 32, 1839-1852, 1993 J.C.B. Lopes, A.E. Dukler. Droplet Dynamics in Gas-Liquid Vertical Annular Flow. AIChE Journal, 33, 1013-1023, 1987 J.C.B. Lopes, A.E. Dukler. Droplet Entrainment in Gas-Liquid Annular Flow and its Contribution to Momentum Transfer. AIChE Journal, 32, 1500-1515, 1986

SELECTED PROJECTS

GALP7/Hidrogas - Reaction Process for CO2 and CH4 Hydrate Formation. Reference: FEUP/EXPOENTEDECADA/2018-73065. Funded by: Expoentedécada, Lda, . Starting Date: 2018/08/01. Duration: 17 months. FluCOREDin - Development of a Dynamic Thermal-Hydraulic Network Model (FluCOREdin) for Core-Type Power Transformers. Reference: FEUP/EFACEC/2016-70815. Funded by: EFACEC Energia Starting Date: 2016/07/01. Duration: 18 months. HydraGTS - Novel GTS technology for carbon capturing and transportation. Reference: 6_2015_IP133_HydraGTS. Funded by: KIC InnoEnergy SE, European Institute of Technology. Starting Date: 2015/10/01. Duration: 20 months. SIMALGA - CO2 Capture and Biomass Production through Industrial Production of Microalgae. Reference: FEUP/A4F/2010-2013. Funded by: ALGAFUEL, SA, Portugal Starting Date: 2010/11/01. Duration: 36 months. CFD Simulation of Pilot Stirred Reactors. Reference: FEUP/IFPEN/2013. Funded by: IFP Energies Nouvelles Starting Date: 2013/01/31. Duration: 16 months. FluSHELL - Development of a Thermo-Hydraulic Network Model for SHELL Type Power Transformers. Reference: FEUP/EFACEC/2011/03. Funded by: EFACEC Energia Starting Date: 2011/04/29. Duration: 24 months. PILLS - Process Intensification Methodologies Applied to Liquid-Liquid Systems in Structured Equipment. Funded by: European Comission, FP7-NMP. Starting Date: 2009/01/01. Duration: 36 months. NETmix-NanoHAp - NETmix Reactor for Production of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles. Reference: DEMTEC 70/00224. Funded by: ANI – Agência Nacional de Investigação, DEMTEC - Projectos Demonstradores. Starting Date: 2007/07/01. Duration: 24 months. CFDapi-ID - Application of CFD in building environment and industrial processes. Reference: NITEC 71/00184. Funded by: ANI – Agência Nacional de Investigação, NITEC - Criação de Núcleos de I&DT nas Empresas. Starting Date: 2007/07/01. Duration: 24 months. RIM - Reaction Injection Moulding (RIM): Controlled Mixing and Novel Design Concepts in a New Prototype Machine. Reference: PTDC/CTM/72595/2006. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I&DT - Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos. Starting Date: 2008/01/01. Duration: 36 months. Hydrodynamics and Chemical Reaction in an Ozonation Tank at Water Treatment Plant in LEVER. Reference: FEUP/AdDP/2004. Funded by: Águas do Douro e Paiva, S.A. Starting Date: 2004/01/01. Duration: 12 months.
José Carlos Lopes
Prof. Associado Aposentado
lopes@fe.up.pt