Description

LEPAE (Laboratory for Process, Environmental and Energy Engineering) is a research unit operating within the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. Its scientific interests are focused on Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering and related fields. LEPAE's permanent staff includes 22 scientists who supervise around 75 research students.

LEPAE's scientific architecture comprises 3 main target areas: Environment and Health; Energy, Processes and Products; Biotechnology and Interfaces. LEPAE emphasizes the cross-feeding of different fields and, therefore, scientists are stimulated to work in cooperation with colleagues coming from different specialized fields, in this and other Units, looking at increasing synergies and seeking for advances in interfacial areas.

The scientific background of LEPAE's permanent staff is multidisciplinary, which has proven to be very helpful  supporting the development of the three target areas mentioned above, as well as of other emerging areas such as nanoscience and new energy technologies. The staff's fundamental skills include separation and catalytic membrane reaction science, advanced mathematical simulation and modeling, chemistry of trace compounds, surface science, environmental biotechnology and molecular biology, water quality, waste solid, liquid and gas treatment, automatic process control and transport phenomena.

The present and future contributions of Chemical, Environmental and Biochemical Engineering to the society rely upon the combined development of in-depth molecular unravelling and modeling, in order to cope with the demands of new/innovative products and energy sustainable processes, capable of integrating eco-efficiency and health concerns together with economically sound and flexible design and operation. The diversified expertise of LEPAE's staff members is an indisputable asset that enables this Unit to tackle such challenge.

A distinct feature of LEPAE's activities has always been the ability to articulate the search for scientific advances with technological applications and innovative solutions, including a number of patents already aproved. This has enabled fruitful collaborations with industrial companies and institutional bodies in the fields of polymers, food processing, paint technology, water, wastewater, solid waste and gas treatment, air quality and health, gas separation, oil refining, petrochemical processing, forest products and new energy production systems.