André Miguel da Costa Lopes

André M. da Costa Lopes is an External Researcher in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. He holds a PhD in Sustainable Chemistry from the New University of Lisbon (2017), with a thesis on ionic liquids in biomass valorization. His research focuses on developing green technologies for biomass and lignin conversion using deep eutectic solvents and ionic liquids, contributing to biorefineries and circular economy initiatives. He is affiliated with CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials and CECOLAB, collaborating on projects like PROVIDES and BIOSURPLIER.

Education:

• B.Sc. in Biotechnology (University of Aveiro, 2010)
• M.Sc. in Biotechnology (University of Aveiro, 2012)
• PhD in Sustainable Chemistry (New University of Lisbon, 2017)

Research Interests: Lignin valorization, bio-based materials, sustainable solvents, biomass fractionation, circular economy, and biorefinery systems. His work emphasizes the use of alternative solvents to create value-added chemicals and materials from agricultural and industrial waste.

Publications & Impact: Co-author of 33 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 17, >2100 citations), 5 book chapters, and 3 patents. Recent articles address lignin dissolution in deep eutectic solvents, biomass pretreatment strategies, and valorization of olive tree pruning.

Awards & Projects: PI of the BIOSURPLIER project and co-investigator in PRIDES and BIOVINO. His research has contributed to CICECO’s recognition in global rankings, including Stanford’s 2024 List of the World’s Top 2% Scientists.

Labs & Teams: Active in CICECO and CECOLAB, focusing on interdisciplinary collaborations in sustainable materials and green chemistry.