On September 12, 2025, Magno Fonseca Santos defended his doctoral thesis in the Chemical Engineering Graduate Program at the Polytechnic School of USP. The thesis was developed under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rita Maria de Brito Alves, with co-supervision from Prof. Dr. Luiz Alexandre Kulay and Dr. Antonio Esio Bresciani.
Titled “Carbon dioxide hydrogenation to produce liquid hydrocarbons: process simulation and assessments,” Magno investigated integrated CO₂ valorization routes through the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction combined with Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for the production of liquid hydrocarbons in the diesel range. The research involved detailed process simulation, as well as technical, economic, and environmental assessments, including Life Cycle Analysis and Planetary Boundaries. The study demonstrated the technical feasibility of the different configurations analyzed and highlighted economic challenges and environmental opportunities, offering a systemic approach to support the advancement of CCUS technologies and the sustainable energy transition.
The examination committee was composed of:
Prof. Dr. Rita Maria de Brito Alves – Polytechnic School/USP
Prof. Dr. Laureano Jimenez Esteller – Fundació Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Prof. Dr. Ana Isabel Cerqueira de Sousa Gouveia Carvalho – Instituto Superior Técnico
Prof. Dr. Fernando Luiz Pellegrini Pessoa – SENAI CIMATEC University
Dr. Maria Giuliana Torraga Uchiyama – Braskem
We congratulate Dr. Magno Fonseca Santos for the excellent defense and for his innovative work throughout his doctorate!