Racheal traineeship in Porto

My decision to spend 2 months at the University of Porto was first influenced by the mild winter and plenty of sunshine. However, upon arrival, I appreciated the inspiring lab environment. The department was filled with talented women leading scientific research and this was very motivating. Additionally, trying local delicacies such as Francesinha and port wine enriched this experience. My absolute favorite place was Miradouro da Serra do Pilar, because of the spectacular night view of the city. 

During my time there, I was privileged to work with Dr. Andreia Peixoto and Ms. Ines Marques, as we turned shrimp shell waste into biochar-based catalyst supports! Given the promise of nitrogen-rich materials in catalysis, our supports were doped with two nitrogen precursors. My learning journey continued through with their characterization using various techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, and BET analyses, followed by catalyst synthesis.

Now in the GreenCats lab, I am testing these catalysts for the HDO of anisole, and I am hopeful for publishable results! This collaboration between Porto and Prague has enriched my knowledge of catalysis and provided me with a deeper appreciation of Green Chemistry and Circular Economy initiatives. I am excited for the outcome of this collaboration. Hopefully, there will be many more collaborations in the future.

Racheal