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Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Understanding the chemical processes that occur in the environment is essential to assess how natural and anthropogenic substances interact with air, water, soil and living organisms. This research line therefore explores the presence, behaviour and fate of pollutants, including legacy and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products and microplastics, which are potential vector of ecological or health risks.
Research efforts focus on developing and applying advanced analytical methodologies for trace detection and quantification, monitoring environmental contamination and understanding chemical interactions within and between environmental compartments. The synergies of environmental chemistry with toxicology, risk assessment, and extreme events under climate change scenarios provides a comprehensive framework to evaluate the impact of pollutants on ecosystems and human health. This research area also supports a sustainable planetary development by contributing to pollution prevention strategies and waste valorization, environmental quality standards, and innovative approaches aligned with the principles of circular economy and green chemistry.
The main objectives are:
To develop sensitive and accurate and green analytical tools to quantify environmental contaminants;
To investigate the occurrence, distribution, and fate of pollutants in natural and impacted environments;
To evaluate the environmental and human health risks associated with chemical exposure;
To contribute to sustainable policies and technologies for environmental protection and resource management.
Waste Valorization
Waste Valorization
The agro-industrial sector generates substantial amounts of by-products, which, if not properly managed, can pose significant environmental and socio-economic challenges. Rather than treating these materials as waste, they can be transformed into valuable resources through the extraction of bioactive compounds. These naturally occurring substances are recognized for their beneficial biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and enzyme-inhibiting activities.
Therefore, extracts rich in bioactive compounds can be obtained from agro-industrial by-products, thoroughly characterized, and microencapsulated to ensure their stability and functionality. These free and microencapsulated extracts can then be incorporated into selected food matrices, specifically dairy and cereal-based products, as well as cosmetic formulations. In the food sector, the integration of these bioactive ingredients aims to enhance the nutritional and functional profile of the foods while maintaining or improving their physicochemical and sensory characteristics. In cosmetics, these extracts can contribute to skin health by offering protective, anti-aging, and antimicrobial benefits.
The main objectives are:
Obtention of extracts enriched in bioactive compounds (BACs), namely phenolic compounds, from agricultural by-products and their characterization;
Microencapsulation of extracts and their characterization;
In vitro analysis and kinetic studies of the BACs release profile in media simulating the gastrointestinal fluids;
Incorporation of the extracts and/or microparticles into various products and evaluation of their performance through stability tests and influence on the organoleptic properties of the final product.
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