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The Centro de Química-Vila
Real (CQVR) is a research unit of the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes
e Alto Douro (UTAD). The
great majority of members belong to the academic staff of the
Chemistry Department of UTAD, although it also includes some
researchers from other Departments such as Geology and Soils that
share similar scientific interests. Its mission is to perform
scientifically recognized research in areas involving Chemistry,
to explore potential applications and to contribute to the
training of young researchers.
Since
its foundation (2001) the CQVR has seen an increase in its members
and, particularly, a noticeable enhancement of their academic
qualifications.
Actually
we have 28 members with PhD
During the 2003-2012 period 100 young researchers worked in the
unit for variable lengths of time.
The
research activities of the CQVR are supported through projects, in
particular QREN, FCT and Industry contract research. The quality of the
research conducted at CQVR is patent in the reports.
In the last two years the 28 CQVR members published 3 patents, 110
SCI articles, 117 communications in international scientific
meetings and 31 communications in national scientific meetings.
The
CQVR unit is organized in 3 research groups that develop
fundamental and applied chemistry research in the areas of Organic
Chemistry, Natural Products and Food Chemistry (11 PhDs), Materials
Chemistry (8 PhDs), and Environmental Chemistry (9 PhDs).
1. Organic Chemistry, Natural
Products and Food Chemistry - Synthesis and structural
characterization of organic compounds with applications in
photochromic devices, photodynamic therapy, affinity
chromatography and pharmaceutics. - Structural characterization of
new natural products isolated from plants and foods.
2. Materials Chemistry - Synthesis
and characterization of ceramic materials, hybrid organic/inorganic
materials and catalysts with applications in sensors, electronic devices,
magneto-cooling, optics, solid state electrochemistry and chemical
industry.
3. Environmental Chemistry - To
study Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) to reduce the pollutant
load of wastes. - To study metal-natural substrates interactions
to understand the behaviour, bioavailability and ultimate fate of
pollutants in the environment. - To study the influence of
groundwater pollution on geochemical processes. - To study the
treatment, recovery and valorisation of industrial, agricultural
and agro-industrial by-products and wastes under an industrial
ecology approach.
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