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Dr. José Pires
LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto

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0 Air Pollution
0 Cluster Analysis
0 Machine Learning
0 Principal Component Analysis
0 Statistical Modeling

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Air Pollution
Principal Component Analysis
CO2 Capture & Storage
CO2 capture & Utilization
Cluster Analysis
Machine Learning

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Journal article
Published: 05 July 2021 in Atmospheric Pollution Research
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The World Health Organization has been making recommendations on assessing and monitoring air quality for human health protection. Its implementation implies a spatial distribution plan for air quality monitoring sites, especially in populated cities where high emissions of air pollutants with anthropogenic origin are observed. Therefore, the present study aimed: (i) to propose the spatial distribution of air quality monitoring sites in the city of Luanda (capital of Angola); and (ii) to determine the PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2 and CO concentrations at two monitoring sites (Avenida Deolinda Rodrigues, ADR, and Condomínio Vale do Talatona, CVT), during four weeks for each site. Due to the absence of national legislation, air quality measurements were then compared to the limits defined by the European Union through Directive, 2008/50/EC. At ADR site, the average concentrations for PM10, PM2.5 and SO2 exceeded the limits recommended for human health. At CVT site, CO, NO2, PM10, PM2.5 and SO2 concentrations were lower than the values measured at ADR site, due to the relative location of important fixed air pollutant emission sources: airport, thermoelectric plants, refinery, cement plants and the Port of Luanda. The weekend effect was also assessed at both sites. At ADR site, NO2, SO2, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were higher at weekends than on weekdays. At CVT site, NO2, SO2 and PM2.5 concentrations were higher on weekdays compared to weekends. The present research will contribute to the decision-making process by the environmental health regulator in Luanda.

ACS Style

Pascoal M.D. Campos; Ana F. Esteves; Anabela A. Leitão; José C.M. Pires. Design of air quality monitoring network of Luanda, Angola: Urban air pollution assessment. Atmospheric Pollution Research 2021, 12, 101128 .

AMA Style

Pascoal M.D. Campos, Ana F. Esteves, Anabela A. Leitão, José C.M. Pires. Design of air quality monitoring network of Luanda, Angola: Urban air pollution assessment. Atmospheric Pollution Research. 2021; 12 (8):101128.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pascoal M.D. Campos; Ana F. Esteves; Anabela A. Leitão; José C.M. Pires. 2021. "Design of air quality monitoring network of Luanda, Angola: Urban air pollution assessment." Atmospheric Pollution Research 12, no. 8: 101128.

Journal article
Published: 17 June 2021 in Journal of Hazardous Materials
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Ozone (O3) is a reactive oxidant that causes chronic effects on human health, vegetation, ecosystems and materials. This study aims to create O3 isopleths in urban and suburban environments, based on machine learning with air quality data collected from 2001 to 2017 at urban (EA) and suburban (CC) monitoring stations from Madrid (Spain). Artificial neural network (ANN) models have powerful fitting performance, describing correctly several complex and nonlinear relationships such as O3 and his precursors (VOC and NOx). Also, ANN learns from the experience provided by data, contrary to mechanistic models based on the fundamental laws of natural sciences. The determined isopleths showed a different behaviour of the VOC-NOx-O3 system compared to the one achieved with a mechanistic model (EKMA curve): e.g. for constant NOx concentrations, O3 concentrations decreased with VOC concentrations in the ANN model. Considering the difficulty to model all the phenomena (and acquired all the required data) that influences O3 concentrations, the statistical models may be a solution to describe this system correctly. The applied methodology is a valuable tool for defining mitigation strategies (control of precursors’ emissions) to reduce O3 concentrations. However, as these models are obtained by air quality data, they are not geographical transferable.

ACS Style

Francisca M. Santos; Álvaro Gómez-Losada; José C.M. Pires. Empirical ozone isopleths at urban and suburban sites through evolutionary procedure-based models. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2021, 419, 126386 .

AMA Style

Francisca M. Santos, Álvaro Gómez-Losada, José C.M. Pires. Empirical ozone isopleths at urban and suburban sites through evolutionary procedure-based models. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2021; 419 ():126386.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francisca M. Santos; Álvaro Gómez-Losada; José C.M. Pires. 2021. "Empirical ozone isopleths at urban and suburban sites through evolutionary procedure-based models." Journal of Hazardous Materials 419, no. : 126386.

Journal article
Published: 27 January 2021 in Sustainability
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Humanity is facing some major global threats, namely lack of environmental sustainability, the energy crisis associated with the unsustainable reliance on fossil fuels, and water scarcity, which will be exacerbated with the rapid growth of urban areas. Researchers have drawn their attention to microalgae, photosynthetic microorganisms known for their environmental applications, such as wastewater remediation and lipids accumulation, to produce third-generation biofuels to solve some of these major issues. Considering this dual role, this study evaluated the potential of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris on nutrient removal from a paper industry effluent and bioenergy production. Firstly, experiments were performed to assess the potential of this microalga to: (i) successfully grow in different concentrations of a paper industry effluent (20% to 100%); and (ii) treat the industrial effluent, reducing phosphorus concentrations to values below the accepted legal limits. Then, a techno-economic assessment was performed to study the viability of a C. vulgaris biorefinery targeting the remediation of a paper industry effluent and bioenergy production. The results have shown that C. vulgaris was able to successfully grow and treat the paper industry effluent. Under these conditions, average biomass productivities determined for this microalga ranged between 15.5 ± 0.5 and 26 ± 1 mg dry weight (DW) L−1 d−1, with maximum biomass concentrations reaching values between 337 ± 9 and 495 ± 25 mg DW L−1 d−1. Moreover, final phosphorus concentrations ranged between 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.5 ± 0.3 mg P L−1, values below the legal limits imposed by the Portuguese Environment Agency on the paper industry. Regarding the proposal of a microalgal biorefinery for the bioremediation of paper industry effluents with bioenergy production, the techno-economic study demonstrated that six of the seven studied scenarios resulted in an economically-viable infrastructure. The highest net present value (15.4 million euros) and lowest discounted payback period (13 years) were determined for Scenario 3, which assumed a photosynthetic efficiency of 3%, a lipids extraction efficiency of 75%, and an anaerobic digestion efficiency of 45%. Therefore, it was possible to conclude that besides being economically viable, the proposed biorefinery presents several environmental benefits: (i) the remediation of an industrial effluent; (ii) CO2 uptake for microalgal growth, which contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gases emissions; (iii) production of clean and renewable energy; (iv) soil regeneration; and (v) promotion of a circular economy.

ACS Style

Maria Silva; Ana Gonçalves; Vítor Vilar; José Pires. Experimental and Techno-Economic Study on the Use of Microalgae for Paper Industry Effluents Remediation. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1314 .

AMA Style

Maria Silva, Ana Gonçalves, Vítor Vilar, José Pires. Experimental and Techno-Economic Study on the Use of Microalgae for Paper Industry Effluents Remediation. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (3):1314.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Silva; Ana Gonçalves; Vítor Vilar; José Pires. 2021. "Experimental and Techno-Economic Study on the Use of Microalgae for Paper Industry Effluents Remediation." Sustainability 13, no. 3: 1314.

Journal article
Published: 23 December 2020 in Atmosphere
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North African dust intrusions can contribute to exceedances of the European PM10 and PM2.5 limit values and World Health Organisation standards, diminishing air quality, and increased mortality and morbidity at higher concentrations. In this study, the contribution of North African dust in Mediterranean countries was estimated using the time series clustering method. This method combines the non-parametric approach of Hidden Markov Models for studying time series, and the definition of different air pollution profiles (regimes of concentration). Using this approach, PM10 and PM2.5 time series obtained at background monitoring stations from seven countries were analysed from 2015 to 2018. The average characteristic contributions to PM10 were estimated as 11.6 ± 10.3 µg·m−3 (Bosnia and Herzegovina), 8.8 ± 7.5 µg·m−3 (Spain), 7.0 ± 6.2 µg·m−3 (France), 8.1 ± 5.9 µg·m−3 (Croatia), 7.5 ± 5.5 µg·m−3 (Italy), 8.1 ± 7.0 µg·m−3 (Portugal), and 17.0 ± 9.8 µg·m−3 (Turkey). For PM2.5, estimated contributions were 4.1 ± 3.5 µg·m−3 (Spain), 6.0 ± 4.8 µg·m−3 (France), 9.1 ± 6.4 µg·m−3 (Croatia), 5.2 ± 3.8 µg·m−3 (Italy), 6.0 ± 4.4 µg·m−3 (Portugal), and 9.0 ± 5.6 µg·m−3 (Turkey). The observed PM2.5/PM10 ratios were between 0.36 and 0.69, and their seasonal variation was characterised, presenting higher values in colder months. Principal component analysis enabled the association of background sites based on their estimated PM10 and PM2.5 pollution profiles.

ACS Style

Álvaro Gómez-Losada; José Pires. Estimation of Particulate Matter Contributions from Desert Outbreaks in Mediterranean Countries (2015–2018) Using the Time Series Clustering Method. Atmosphere 2020, 12, 5 .

AMA Style

Álvaro Gómez-Losada, José Pires. Estimation of Particulate Matter Contributions from Desert Outbreaks in Mediterranean Countries (2015–2018) Using the Time Series Clustering Method. Atmosphere. 2020; 12 (1):5.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Álvaro Gómez-Losada; José Pires. 2020. "Estimation of Particulate Matter Contributions from Desert Outbreaks in Mediterranean Countries (2015–2018) Using the Time Series Clustering Method." Atmosphere 12, no. 1: 5.

Journal article
Published: 28 October 2020 in Chemical Engineering Journal
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Leachates treatment relies on the adoption of a multi-barrier strategy, involving primary, secondary, and tertiary processes. Due to their ability to grow in a wide variety of environmental conditions, and their nutritional requirements, especially in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus, microalgae appear as a promising alternative for the tertiary treatment of landfill leachates. Despite these advantages, only a few studies have promoted landfill leachates treatment using microalgae, most of them emphasizing the need for effluent dilution in water to minimize the toxicity and high color/turbidity of these effluents. An option to avoid the use of freshwater for effluent dilution would be the development of novel photobioreactors (PBRs), able to improve light absorption and, hence, light utilization efficiency by microalgae. This study evaluated the potential of Chlorella vulgaris and Tetradesmus obliquus on nitrogen (in the forms of nitrate and nitrite) removal from a pre-treated landfill leachate. Preliminary experiments using different concentrations of the pre-treated leachate were carried out in 1-L flasks. These results have shown that microalgal growth and nitrogen removal were higher in more diluted conditions. After selection of the adequate effluent concentration, a tubular PBR coupled to an optical reflector was used for biomass production. This innovative PBR is known to improve light distribution along the tube perimeter, enhancing microalgal photosynthetic activity. In fact, a significant improvement in C. vulgaris biomass productivities and nitrogen species removal efficiencies was observed in this PBR, confirming its potential as an effective platform for microalgal biomass production and tertiary treatment of landfill leachates.

ACS Style

Bruna Porto; Ana L. Gonçalves; Ana F. Esteves; Selene M.A. Guelli U. de Souza; Antônio A.U. de Souza; Vítor J.P. Vilar; José C.M. Pires. Assessing the potential of microalgae for nutrients removal from a landfill leachate using an innovative tubular photobioreactor. Chemical Engineering Journal 2020, 413, 127546 .

AMA Style

Bruna Porto, Ana L. Gonçalves, Ana F. Esteves, Selene M.A. Guelli U. de Souza, Antônio A.U. de Souza, Vítor J.P. Vilar, José C.M. Pires. Assessing the potential of microalgae for nutrients removal from a landfill leachate using an innovative tubular photobioreactor. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2020; 413 ():127546.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bruna Porto; Ana L. Gonçalves; Ana F. Esteves; Selene M.A. Guelli U. de Souza; Antônio A.U. de Souza; Vítor J.P. Vilar; José C.M. Pires. 2020. "Assessing the potential of microalgae for nutrients removal from a landfill leachate using an innovative tubular photobioreactor." Chemical Engineering Journal 413, no. : 127546.

Book chapter
Published: 11 August 2020 in Encyclopedia of Marine Biotechnology
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This chapter presents an overview of the integration of culture of microalgae in the treatment of wastewater with heavy metals, analyzing the production of biomass and removal efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals. Microalgae are a photosynthetic microorganism group that can be found in both marine and freshwater environments. The microalgal classes are mainly distinguished by their pigmentation, life cycle and cell structure. The cultivation of microalgae may be ranked not only by the applied technology, but also by the metabolic pathway that allows their growth. Microalgae can grow based on four types of metabolism, depending on the source of energy and carbon: photo‐autotrophic, heterotrophic, mixotrophic, and photo‐heterotrophic. The cultivation of microalgae can be performed on systems with suspended or immobilized cultures. The first case can be divided into open, closed or hybrid systems (a combination of the open and closed systems).

ACS Style

Francisca Santos; A.P. Lopes; Vítor Vilar; José Pires. Microalgal Growth and Nutrient Uptake in Heavy Metal Polluted Environments. Encyclopedia of Marine Biotechnology 2020, 497 -514.

AMA Style

Francisca Santos, A.P. Lopes, Vítor Vilar, José Pires. Microalgal Growth and Nutrient Uptake in Heavy Metal Polluted Environments. Encyclopedia of Marine Biotechnology. 2020; ():497-514.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francisca Santos; A.P. Lopes; Vítor Vilar; José Pires. 2020. "Microalgal Growth and Nutrient Uptake in Heavy Metal Polluted Environments." Encyclopedia of Marine Biotechnology , no. : 497-514.

Chapter
Published: 07 May 2020 in Nanosensors for Environment, Food and Agriculture Vol. 1
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Nitrogen and phosphorus are two macronutrients present in chemical fertilizers applied to agricultural practices. Nitrogen is usually produced from the Haber–Bosch synthesis process, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia using natural gas. Consequently, it generated substantial amounts of CO2, which is the main contributor to global warming. Phosphorus is obtained from nonrenewable phosphate-based minerals using chemical processes with sulfuric acid. This method produces hazardous substances, which have a risk to both human health and the environment. Besides the environmental impacts from the production processes, the nutrient uptake efficiency by the cultures may be very low. Nitrogen can be easily lost to the environment due to denitrification, volatilization, and/or leaching. Phosphate may be converted into insoluble compounds after chemical reaction with soil minerals, which decreases the availability of this nutrient. These losses have major impacts on the environment, polluting the soil, water, and air. With the increasing tendency of the fertilizer demand for agricultural practices, it is imperative (i) to find sustainable alternatives to chemical fertilizers (minimizing their world market cote) and (ii) to develop technologies that enhance nutrient uptake efficiency, reducing simultaneously the environmental impacts. Nutrient recycling from wastewaters represents a sustainable solution. These effluents have been proposed as sources of nitrogen and phosphorus for the culture of microalgae, with the simultaneous benefit of nitrogen and phosphorus removal (avoiding the environmental negative impacts with their discharge). Then, microalgal biomass can have several applications, including the production of biofertilizers. This process will enable nutrient recycling, reducing the requirement of fertilizers produced in a non-environmentally friendly way. This chapter aims to present the advantages (and research needs) of using microalgal cultures for nutrient recovery from wastewaters.

ACS Style

Francisca Maria Santos; José Carlos Magalhães Pires. Microalgae Cultivation in Wastewater to Recycle Nutrients as Biofertilizer. Nanosensors for Environment, Food and Agriculture Vol. 1 2020, 71 -86.

AMA Style

Francisca Maria Santos, José Carlos Magalhães Pires. Microalgae Cultivation in Wastewater to Recycle Nutrients as Biofertilizer. Nanosensors for Environment, Food and Agriculture Vol. 1. 2020; ():71-86.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francisca Maria Santos; José Carlos Magalhães Pires. 2020. "Microalgae Cultivation in Wastewater to Recycle Nutrients as Biofertilizer." Nanosensors for Environment, Food and Agriculture Vol. 1 , no. : 71-86.

Journal article
Published: 26 April 2020 in Applied Sciences
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Paper and pulp industries produce effluents with high phosphorus concentrations, which need to be treated before their discharge in watercourses. The use of microalgae for this purpose has attracted the attention of researchers because: (i) microalgae can assimilate phosphorus (one of the main nutrients for their growth); and (ii) growing on effluents can significantly reduce the costs and environmental impact of microalgal biomass production. This study evaluated the growth and ability of Chlorella vulgaris to remove the phosphorus from a secondary-treated effluent of a Portuguese paper company. Batch experiments were performed for 11 days using different dilutions of the effluent to evaluate its inhibitory effect on microalgae. Results showed that the non-diluted effluent inhibited microalgal growth, indicating that this bioremediation process is possible after a previous dilution of the effluent. Regarding phosphorus removal, promising results were achieved, especially in the experiments conducted with the most diluted effluent: removal efficiencies obtained in these conditions were (54 ± 1)%. Another interesting finding of this study was microalgal growth in flakes’ form (mainly due to the compounds present in the effluent and to the pH values achieved), which can be an important economic advantage for biomass recovery after the remediation step.

ACS Style

Bruna Porto; Ana L. Gonçalves; Ana F. Esteves; Selene M. A. Guelli Ulson De Souza; Antônio A. Ulson De Souza; Vítor J. P. Vilar; José C. M. Pires. Microalgal Growth in Paper Industry Effluent: Coupling Biomass Production with Nutrients Removal. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 3009 .

AMA Style

Bruna Porto, Ana L. Gonçalves, Ana F. Esteves, Selene M. A. Guelli Ulson De Souza, Antônio A. Ulson De Souza, Vítor J. P. Vilar, José C. M. Pires. Microalgal Growth in Paper Industry Effluent: Coupling Biomass Production with Nutrients Removal. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (9):3009.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bruna Porto; Ana L. Gonçalves; Ana F. Esteves; Selene M. A. Guelli Ulson De Souza; Antônio A. Ulson De Souza; Vítor J. P. Vilar; José C. M. Pires. 2020. "Microalgal Growth in Paper Industry Effluent: Coupling Biomass Production with Nutrients Removal." Applied Sciences 10, no. 9: 3009.

Journal article
Published: 16 April 2020 in Energies
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Microalgae can be a future source of biomass with a wide range of applications, including its use to solve current environmental issues. One of the main variables for microalgal cultivation is the light supply: (i) its intensity that often does not present a uniform spatial distribution inside the culture; (ii) photoperiod; and (iii) spectrum. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the growth of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris in a tubular photobioreactor with compound parabolic collectors (CPCs) under outdoor conditions. The effect of ultraviolet and visible radiation on biomass productivity and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) uptake was assessed. The maximum biomass productivity was (5 ± 1) × 10−3 g·L−1·h−1, and the specific growth rates ranged from (1.1 ± 0.3) × 10−2 to (2.0 ± 0.6) × 10−2 h−1. Regarding nutrient uptake, initial removal rates of (0.9 ± 0.4) mg N·L−1·h−1 for nitrogen and (0.17 ± 0.04) mg P·L−1·h−1 for phosphorus were reached. These values increased with visible and ultraviolet irradiance until certain values (143 WVIS·m−2 and 9 WUV·m−2 for biomass productivity; 101 WVIS·m−2 and 6 WUV·m−2 for nutrient removal) and then decreased for higher ones due to the photoinhibition phenomenon. Therefore, the application of CPCs to photobioreactors (PBRs) may be beneficial for microalgal culture in countries with higher latitude (with lower solar irradiance levels).

ACS Style

Alcinda P. Lopes; Francisca M. Santos; Tânia F. C. V. Silva; Vítor J. P. Vilar; José C. M. Pires. Outdoor Cultivation of the Microalga Chlorella vulgaris in a New Photobioreactor Configuration: The Effect of Ultraviolet and Visible Radiation. Energies 2020, 13, 1962 .

AMA Style

Alcinda P. Lopes, Francisca M. Santos, Tânia F. C. V. Silva, Vítor J. P. Vilar, José C. M. Pires. Outdoor Cultivation of the Microalga Chlorella vulgaris in a New Photobioreactor Configuration: The Effect of Ultraviolet and Visible Radiation. Energies. 2020; 13 (8):1962.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alcinda P. Lopes; Francisca M. Santos; Tânia F. C. V. Silva; Vítor J. P. Vilar; José C. M. Pires. 2020. "Outdoor Cultivation of the Microalga Chlorella vulgaris in a New Photobioreactor Configuration: The Effect of Ultraviolet and Visible Radiation." Energies 13, no. 8: 1962.

Journal article
Published: 09 January 2020 in Energies
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Microalgae have drawn the attention of several researchers as an alternative to the traditional physicochemical CO2 capture methods, since they can convert CO2 and water into organic matter and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Microalgal growth can be improved by changing light supply, such as light intensity, wavelength, and photoperiod. In this study, the effect of different light wavelengths on CO2 capture, nutrient removal from a synthetic effluent and biomass production of Chlorella vulgaris, Tetradesmus obliquus and Neochloris oleoabundans was studied. The experiments were conducted with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with different wavelengths: 380–750 nm (white), 620–750 nm (red) and 450–495 nm (blue). The maximum specific growth rate was obtained by N. oleoabundans with white LEDs (0.264 ± 0.005 d−1), whereas the maximum biomass productivity (14 ± 4 mgdw L−1 d−1) and CO2 fixation rate (11.4 mgCO2 L−1 d−1) were obtained by C. vulgaris (also with white LEDs). Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies obtained under white light conditions were also the highest for the three studied microalgae.

ACS Style

Ana F. Esteves; Olívia S. G. P. Soares; Vítor J. P. Vilar; José C. M. Pires; Ana L. Gonçalves. The Effect of Light Wavelength on CO2 Capture, Biomass Production and Nutrient Uptake by Green Microalgae: A Step Forward on Process Integration and Optimisation. Energies 2020, 13, 333 .

AMA Style

Ana F. Esteves, Olívia S. G. P. Soares, Vítor J. P. Vilar, José C. M. Pires, Ana L. Gonçalves. The Effect of Light Wavelength on CO2 Capture, Biomass Production and Nutrient Uptake by Green Microalgae: A Step Forward on Process Integration and Optimisation. Energies. 2020; 13 (2):333.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana F. Esteves; Olívia S. G. P. Soares; Vítor J. P. Vilar; José C. M. Pires; Ana L. Gonçalves. 2020. "The Effect of Light Wavelength on CO2 Capture, Biomass Production and Nutrient Uptake by Green Microalgae: A Step Forward on Process Integration and Optimisation." Energies 13, no. 2: 333.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2020 in Handbook of Microalgae-Based Processes and Products
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ACS Style

Ana Filipa Esteves; Cíntia Jesus Almeida; Ana L. Gonçalves; José Pires. Microalgae harvesting techniques. Handbook of Microalgae-Based Processes and Products 2020, 225 -281.

AMA Style

Ana Filipa Esteves, Cíntia Jesus Almeida, Ana L. Gonçalves, José Pires. Microalgae harvesting techniques. Handbook of Microalgae-Based Processes and Products. 2020; ():225-281.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Filipa Esteves; Cíntia Jesus Almeida; Ana L. Gonçalves; José Pires. 2020. "Microalgae harvesting techniques." Handbook of Microalgae-Based Processes and Products , no. : 225-281.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2020 in Advances in Carbon Capture
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ACS Style

Miguel A. Vale; António Ferreira; José Pires; Ana L. Gonçalves. CO2 capture using microalgae. Advances in Carbon Capture 2020, 381 -405.

AMA Style

Miguel A. Vale, António Ferreira, José Pires, Ana L. Gonçalves. CO2 capture using microalgae. Advances in Carbon Capture. 2020; ():381-405.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miguel A. Vale; António Ferreira; José Pires; Ana L. Gonçalves. 2020. "CO2 capture using microalgae." Advances in Carbon Capture , no. : 381-405.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2019 in Environmental Pollution
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Angola is one of the countries with a high rate of waterborne diseases, due to the scarcity and poor quality of water for human consumption. The watercourses are receptors of many effluents, mainly domestic sewage, due to a precarious or inexistent sanitation system and a small number of wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, this study aims: (i) to evaluate the water quality (physicochemical and microbiological parameters) of three Angolan rivers (Kwanza, Bengo and Dande) in locations where water is used as drinking water or abstracted for human consumption; (ii) to develop a new water quality index able to quantitatively express the water quality in those sites; and (iii) to assess the spatial distribution of water pollution through principal component analysis (PCA). Water quality assessment was performed by conducting four field surveys (campaigns I to IV); the first two campaigns took place in the dry season, while the last two ones took place in the rainy season. In the first two campaigns, the water quality was suitable to be treated for the production of drinking water, while in the last two campaigns, the water was unsuitable for that purpose (high levels of faecal coliforms were detected). The water quality index allowed to classify the water as generally excellent (campaigns I and II) and poor (campaigns III and IV). The rudimentary disinfection usually performed by individual water suppliers may improve the water quality, but it was not enough to achieve the parametric values required for human consumption in the rainy season (campaigns III and IV) except for Bengo sites. PCA identified sampling sites with the same water quality patterns, grouping into four groups (Kwanza sites) and two groups (Dande and Bengo sites). Therefore, the results of this study may support decision-makers as regards water supply management in the river stretches under study. The new developed Water Quality Index can support decision-makers in terms of water supply management, especially in countries with a high rate of waterborne diseases (e.g. Angola).

ACS Style

Juliana M. Paca; Francisca M. Santos; José C.M. Pires; Anabela A. Leitão; Rui A.R. Boaventura. Quality assessment of water intended for human consumption from Kwanza, Dande and Bengo rivers (Angola). Environmental Pollution 2019, 254, 113037 .

AMA Style

Juliana M. Paca, Francisca M. Santos, José C.M. Pires, Anabela A. Leitão, Rui A.R. Boaventura. Quality assessment of water intended for human consumption from Kwanza, Dande and Bengo rivers (Angola). Environmental Pollution. 2019; 254 ():113037.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Juliana M. Paca; Francisca M. Santos; José C.M. Pires; Anabela A. Leitão; Rui A.R. Boaventura. 2019. "Quality assessment of water intended for human consumption from Kwanza, Dande and Bengo rivers (Angola)." Environmental Pollution 254, no. : 113037.

Journal article
Published: 29 October 2019 in Sustainability
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Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) is associated with adverse effects on human health (e.g., fatal cardiovascular and respiratory diseases), and environmental concerns (e.g., visibility impairment and damage in ecosystems). This study aimed to evaluate temporal and spatial trends and behaviors of PM2.5 concentrations in different European locations. Statistical threshold models using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) defined by Genetic Algorithms (GA) were also applied for an urban centre site in Istanbul, to evaluate the influence of meteorological variables and PM10 concentrations on PM2.5 concentrations. Lower PM2.5 concentrations were observed in northern Europe. The highest values were found at traffic-related sites. PM2.5 concentrations were usually higher during the winter and tended to present strong increases during rush hours. PM2.5/PM10 ratios were slightly higher at background sites and the lower values were found in northern Europe (Helsinki and Stockholm). Ratios were usually higher during cold months and during the night. The statistical model (ANN + GA) allowed evaluating the combined effect of different explanatory variables (temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, air pressure and PM10 concentrations) on PM2.5 concentrations, under different regimes defined by relative humidity (threshold value of 79.1%). Important information about the temporal and spatial trends and behaviors related to PM2.5 concentrations in different European locations was developed.

ACS Style

José Adães; José C. M. Pires. Analysis and Modelling of PM2.5 Temporal and Spatial Behaviors in European Cities. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6019 .

AMA Style

José Adães, José C. M. Pires. Analysis and Modelling of PM2.5 Temporal and Spatial Behaviors in European Cities. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (21):6019.

Chicago/Turabian Style

José Adães; José C. M. Pires. 2019. "Analysis and Modelling of PM2.5 Temporal and Spatial Behaviors in European Cities." Sustainability 11, no. 21: 6019.

Journal article
Published: 24 August 2019 in Atmospheric Research
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The background PM2.5 concentration represents the combined emissions from natural domestic and foreign sources, which has implications for the maximum effect, in terms of air-quality control, that can be achieved by reducing emissions. However, estimating the background PM2.5 concentration via background monitoring sites for a densely populated region (e.g., Taiwan) has been a challenge. In this study, we compared two statistical methods of estimating the background concentration using an 11-year time series (2005–2016) of data from three air-quality stations in Taiwan. The results of two methods showed good agreement for the background PM2.5 concentration estimation, which was about 4.4 μg m−3 and comparable to literature reports. According to the trend analysis, the concentration has decreased at a rate of 1–2 μg m−3 decade−1 as a result of better emissions control in East Asia in recent years. Furthermore, the local concentration can exceed the regional background value by up to 5 times due to local emissions, topographic effects, and weather regimes. When considering the cross-county transport of PM2.5, a difference as high as 5 μg m−3 exists between two prevailing-wind scenarios. This study provides crucial information to policy-makers on setting an achievable and reasonable goal for PM2.5 reduction.

ACS Style

Sheng-Hsiang Wang; Ruo-Ya Hung; Neng-Huei Lin; Álvaro Gómez-Losada; José C.M. Pires; Kojiro Shimada; Shiro Hatakeyama; Akinori Takami. Estimation of background PM2.5 concentrations for an air-polluted environment. Atmospheric Research 2019, 231, 104636 .

AMA Style

Sheng-Hsiang Wang, Ruo-Ya Hung, Neng-Huei Lin, Álvaro Gómez-Losada, José C.M. Pires, Kojiro Shimada, Shiro Hatakeyama, Akinori Takami. Estimation of background PM2.5 concentrations for an air-polluted environment. Atmospheric Research. 2019; 231 ():104636.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sheng-Hsiang Wang; Ruo-Ya Hung; Neng-Huei Lin; Álvaro Gómez-Losada; José C.M. Pires; Kojiro Shimada; Shiro Hatakeyama; Akinori Takami. 2019. "Estimation of background PM2.5 concentrations for an air-polluted environment." Atmospheric Research 231, no. : 104636.

Review article
Published: 20 August 2019 in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
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Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been proposed to be used as the geothermal working fluid, as it presents enhanced thermodynamic properties for this application when compared with the water-based system. This paper aims to present an overview of the recent research advances on CO2-based geothermal systems, particularly CO2-enhanced systems and CO2-plume geothermal energy technology. The results of the recent operational projects are also described. This emerging technology can improve the efficiency of geothermal systems and their environmental impact, promoting the process sustainability and helping to tackle some of the most important issues that Humanity is facing: (i) global climate change; (ii) energy availability; and (iii) water scarcity. For deployment of this technology at a large scale, some issues and uncertainties were identified. Special attention was focused on the basic findings achieved in operational projects.

ACS Style

Ana Filipa Esteves; Francisca Maria Santos; José Carlos Magalhães Pires. Carbon dioxide as geothermal working fluid: An overview. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2019, 114, 109331 .

AMA Style

Ana Filipa Esteves, Francisca Maria Santos, José Carlos Magalhães Pires. Carbon dioxide as geothermal working fluid: An overview. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2019; 114 ():109331.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Filipa Esteves; Francisca Maria Santos; José Carlos Magalhães Pires. 2019. "Carbon dioxide as geothermal working fluid: An overview." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 114, no. : 109331.

Review article
Published: 02 April 2019 in Science of The Total Environment
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Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas (GHG) and its atmospheric concentration is currently 50% higher than pre-industrial levels. The continuous GHGs emissions may lead to severe and irreversible consequences in the climate system. The reduction of GHG emissions may be not enough to mitigate climate change. Consequently, besides carbon capture from large emission sources, atmospheric CO2 capture may be also required. To meet the target defined for climate change mitigation, the removal of 10 Gt·yr−1 of CO2 globally by mid-century and 20 Gt·yr−1 of CO2 globally by the end of century. The technologies applied with this aim are known as negative emission technologies (NETs), as they lead to achieve a negative balance of carbon in atmosphere. This paper aims to present the recent research works regarding NETs, focusing the research findings achieved by academic groups and projects. Besides several advantages, NETs present high operational cost and its scale-up should be tested to know the real effect on climate change mitigation. With current knowledge, no single process should be seen as a solution. Research efforts should be performed to evaluate and reduce NETs costs and environmental impact.

ACS Style

J.C.M. Pires. Negative emissions technologies: A complementary solution for climate change mitigation. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 672, 502 -514.

AMA Style

J.C.M. Pires. Negative emissions technologies: A complementary solution for climate change mitigation. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 672 ():502-514.

Chicago/Turabian Style

J.C.M. Pires. 2019. "Negative emissions technologies: A complementary solution for climate change mitigation." Science of The Total Environment 672, no. : 502-514.

Book chapter
Published: 01 March 2019 in Advances in Feedstock Conversion Technologies for Alternative Fuels and Bioproducts
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Carbon dioxide (CO2) has significantly contributed to the increase of the greenhouse effect. CO2 concentrations have increased over the last several decades mainly due to the increase of anthropogenic emissions. Taking into account the relationship between the world energy demand and the respective CO2 emissions, it can be estimated that the atmospheric CO2 concentration can double those of the preindustrial age by the end of 21st century. In this context, an emerging technology is CO2 biosequestration by microalgae. These microorganisms can fix CO2 using solar energy with an efficiency 10 times greater than terrestrial plants. This biological process was tested for CO2 capture from flue gas. The major adverse effects are the high temperature of the gaseous stream and pH decrease of the culture medium due to the presence of NOx and SO2. Thus, this chapter aims to update researchers, governments, and industries from different regions on the latest developments of CO2 biosequestration by algae.

ACS Style

José Pires. Biosequestration of Carbon Dioxide From Flue Gases by Algae. Advances in Feedstock Conversion Technologies for Alternative Fuels and Bioproducts 2019, 105 -118.

AMA Style

José Pires. Biosequestration of Carbon Dioxide From Flue Gases by Algae. Advances in Feedstock Conversion Technologies for Alternative Fuels and Bioproducts. 2019; ():105-118.

Chicago/Turabian Style

José Pires. 2019. "Biosequestration of Carbon Dioxide From Flue Gases by Algae." Advances in Feedstock Conversion Technologies for Alternative Fuels and Bioproducts , no. : 105-118.

Journal article
Published: 13 February 2019 in Chemical Engineering Journal
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The effect of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, and Zn) on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris and nutrient uptake was assessed. C. vulgaris was cultivated in a synthetic solution with a single or ternary metal system. Biomass growth was well predicted considering a competitive inhibition model. The higher specific growth rate (0.34 d−1), biomass productivity (98.1 mg·L−1·d−1), heavy metals uptake efficiency (85%) was obtained for the cultures with Cd and Zn ions. The higher nutrient removal was observed in the presence of Cd ions (91% nitrogen and 99% phosphorus). The highest inhibition on biomass growth (>88%) was observed in the presence of nickel ions. In the ternary system, microalgae growth inhibition was similar to that observed in the presence of only nickel ions. Although, wastewaters containing nutrients and residual concentrations of zinc and cadmium ions can be used for C. vulgaris production, in the presence of residual concentrations of nickel ions, biomass growth is negligible.

ACS Style

Francisca M. Santos; Luciana P. Mazur; Diego A. Mayer; Vítor J.P. Vilar; José C.M. Pires. Inhibition effect of zinc, cadmium, and nickel ions in microalgal growth and nutrient uptake from water: An experimental approach. Chemical Engineering Journal 2019, 366, 358 -367.

AMA Style

Francisca M. Santos, Luciana P. Mazur, Diego A. Mayer, Vítor J.P. Vilar, José C.M. Pires. Inhibition effect of zinc, cadmium, and nickel ions in microalgal growth and nutrient uptake from water: An experimental approach. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2019; 366 ():358-367.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francisca M. Santos; Luciana P. Mazur; Diego A. Mayer; Vítor J.P. Vilar; José C.M. Pires. 2019. "Inhibition effect of zinc, cadmium, and nickel ions in microalgal growth and nutrient uptake from water: An experimental approach." Chemical Engineering Journal 366, no. : 358-367.

Chapter
Published: 01 January 2019 in Biotechnology of Extremophiles:
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Cultivation of microalgae has been the focus of several research studies worldwide, due to the huge potential of these photosynthetic microorganisms in a wide range of applications, namely environmental and biotechnological ones. Regarding environmental applications, these microorganisms can play an important role in CO2 uptake and wastewater treatment processes and can be used as raw materials for bioenergy production. However, cultivation of these microorganisms for these applications still faces some problems: (1) it is very difficult to maintain pure cultures of these microorganisms in wastewater treatment processes and (2) bioenergy production process using these microorganisms is still not economically viable. To face these challenges, several studies have reported the use of microalgal consortia. When using microalgal consortia, cooperative interactions can occur, enhancing biomass productivities and therefore nutrients uptake and lipids content. Additionally, these systems tend to be more resistant to environmental conditions’ oscillations, facilitating the overall production process. In this study, an overview on the use of microalgal consortia for CO2 capture, wastewater treatment and bioenergy production is provided, focusing on the interactions that can occur between these microorganisms and how they can improve these environmental applications.

ACS Style

Ana L. Gonçalves; Francisca M. Santos; José C. M. Pires. Microalgal Consortia: From Wastewater Treatment to Bioenergy Production. Biotechnology of Extremophiles: 2019, 371 -398.

AMA Style

Ana L. Gonçalves, Francisca M. Santos, José C. M. Pires. Microalgal Consortia: From Wastewater Treatment to Bioenergy Production. Biotechnology of Extremophiles:. 2019; ():371-398.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana L. Gonçalves; Francisca M. Santos; José C. M. Pires. 2019. "Microalgal Consortia: From Wastewater Treatment to Bioenergy Production." Biotechnology of Extremophiles: , no. : 371-398.