"Sustainability assessment of biomass valorization and CO₂ capture" - April 10, 2026, Friday, 3:00 pm, Pavilhão de Informática I, amphitheatre FA1

Date: April 10, 2026, Friday
Time: 3:00 pm
Place: Pavilhão de Informática I, amphitheatre FA1

• Speaker: Ana Filipa Ferreira (Scientific Area of Thermofluids and Energy Conversion Technologies of DEM/IST; IDMEC - Institute of Mechanical Engineering, LAETA)

• Title: "Sustainability assessment of biomass valorization and CO₂ capture"

• Abstract:

Circular Economy represents a crucial concept for sustainable development, encouraging the efficient use of resources along the entire life cycle of products and services. The European Circular Economy Action Plan, one of the main pillars of the European Green Deal, aims to promote and raise awareness of circular models and processes, fostering responsible consumption within the planet’s finite boundaries, supporting ecosystem regeneration, and encouraging a sustainable‑by‑design mindset. It seeks to generate direct impacts in reducing waste and lowering the environmental impacts associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) and pollutant emissions, while, in the medium term, enabling the creation of socio‑economic value through specific business models.
In this context, residual biomass can play an important role as a feedstock for producing bioproducts and energy, helping to minimize waste and enhance resource valorization. Throughout the Seminar, examples such as the production of biochar, biogas/biomethane, and biofuels will be presented, highlighting the potential of these products for diverse applications, from soil use to fuel substitution in sectors such as aviation. This Seminar focuses on assessing the sustainability of biomass valorization, aiming to identify the most suitable pathways, from feedstock collection and pre‑treatment, through conversion and production, to end use in different applications. A key element of the presentation will be Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a tool to compare options and quantify energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and other impacts across the life cycle, from production and logistics to end‑of‑life. The Seminar also includes a component dedicated to the LCA of CO₂ capture technologies in an industrial context, with a particular focus on the cement industry, exploring how these technologies can strengthen decarbonization strategies when assessed from an integrated life‑cycle perspective.

• Short Biographic Note:

Ana Ferreira is an Assistant Professor in the Scientific Area of Thermofluids and Energy Conversion Technologies of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DEM) at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), since April 2025. She holds a degree and a master’s in Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences of Universidade de Lisboa, where she worked on atmospheric exposure, pollutant emission analysis, and analytical and electroanalytical chemistry. In 2013, she completed her PhD in Environmental Engineering at IST, conducting research on energy sources and sustainability using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). She received the 2024 Universidade de Lisboa/Caixa Geral de Depósitos Scientific Award in the field of Environmental and Energy Engineering, as well as an Honourable Mention in the Universidade de Lisboa/Santander Universidades Scientific Awards in 2017.
She is currently a researcher at IDMEC, working in the areas of energy, alternative biomass, conversion processes, biofuels, hydrogen, LCA, and techno‑economic analysis. She has participated in more than 12 national and international projects and is currently the Principal Investigator of DRIVE project, "Deep Removal of CO₂ and InnoVative Electrification concepts" in IDMEC, which contributes to a carbon‑neutral society by demonstrating technologies for deep CO₂ removal from industrial sources. Ana Ferreira is the author of several scientific publications and has participated in national and international conferences. She is a member of the Portuguese Society for Engineering Education (SPEE). In addition to her research activity, she has extensive experience in academic supervision and evaluation, including PhD supervision and multiple master’s dissertations. Her main research interests include biomass valorization, conversion technologies (combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification), the production and use of biofuels and biochar, energy and environment, sustainability and circular economy, and engineering education.

This is another Seminar of the “Seminars@DEM” cycle.
Next Seminar, May 8, 2026, Friday, 3:00 pm.