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Research Areas

Bio-based polymers and composites, oleochemistry, CNTs, microwaves

Education

• B.S. (Chemistry) – University of Brasilia (Brazil)
• M.S. (Physical Chemistry) – University of Brasilia (Brazil)
• Ph.D. (Chemistry) – Iowa State University

Publications

1. Santos, A. G.; Grilo, L. M.; Silva, J. A. C.; Quirino, R. L.; Lacerda, T. M.; Macromonomer Derived from Tung Oil and Bismaleimide: Synthesis via Diels-Alder Reaction and Production of Renewable Polyesters, Journal of Polymer Research, v. 32, 331, 2025.
2. Silva, J. A. C.; Ajiola, D.; Rodgers, C.; Adeyera, J.; Qabani, I. A.; Kardel, K.; Lacerda, T. M.; Snelling, D.; Baudoin, G.; Goldberg, K.; Taheri, H.; Thompson, S.; Quirino, R. L.; Sand composites prepared with a tung oil-based, crosslinked resin and its preliminary trials in binder jetting, Materials Today Communications, v. 47, 113243, 2025.
3. Zhu, Y.; Deng, H.; Luo, H.; An, Y.; Yu, X.; Luo, Y.; Quirino, R. L.; Zhang, C.; Synthesis of anti-ultraviolet and fluorescent waterborne polyurethanes with highly active plant oil-based internal emulsifiers, Journal of Cleaner Production, v. 508, 145578, 2025.
4. Aniza, R.; Herrera, C. J. A.; Quirino, R. L.; Petrissans, M.; Petrissans, A.; Bioenergy and bioexergy analyses with artificial intelligence application on combustion of recycled hardwood and softwood wastes, Renewable Energy, v. 237 (Part D), 121885, 2024.
5. Silva, J. A. C.; Quirino, R. L.; Lacerda, T. M.; The use of the straightforward Diels-Alder reaction for the preparation of monomers from tung oil and itaconic acid: synthesis, characterization, and screening of their polymerization reactions, Journal of Polymers and the Environment, v. 32, 5544-5559, 2024.
6. Silva, J. A. C.; Patel, P.; Pazymino, I.; Inglesby, S.; Kirk, T.; Kazen, R.; Lacerda, T. M.; Quirino, R. L.; Effective lignin-based binders for particle boards, ACS Sustainable Resource Management, v. 1 (6), p. 1225-1237, 2024.

Funding

Current Grants

1. NSF-DMR-TMRP-BMAT-CAS. Collaborative Research: CAS: A novel machine learning-assisted materials design cycle for bio-based thermosets. U$ 285,437.47, July 2025-June 2028. (PI)
2. NSF-FMSG. Eco: Off-Grid Construction via Sustainable Compression Curing of Vegetable Oil-Impregnated Sediments. U$ 494,685.00, Oct 2022-Sep 2025. (co-PI)

Previous Grants

1. NSF-IRES (site). International Research Experience in France on Thermal Treatment of Biomass (I-CEMITURE). U$ 279,827.00, Sep 2020-Aug 2023. (PI)
2. Thomas Jefferson Fund. Biomass Natural Potassium the Best Way to Improve the Soft Pyrolysis Process. U$ 20,000.00, Aug 2019-Aug 2022. (PI)
3. ACS-IRG Pilot Project Grant. In Vivo Study of Carbon Nanotube-antibody Conjugates for Selective Hyperthermia of Cancer Cells under Microwaves. U$ 40,000.00, Dec 2017-Dec 2018. (PI) 
4. 2018 MetLife Foundation Study Abroad Innovation Competition. Study Abroad and Jump-Starting of Exchange Programs between Leading Universities of Central-West Brazil and Southeast Georgia, USA. U$ 25,000.00, Jan 2019-Dec 2019. (co-PI)

Research Projects

1. Vegetable oil-based composites
2. Biomass torrefaction
3. Microwave heating of carbon nanotubes

Research Group

Undergraduate Students

• Destiny Williams
• John Tarr
• Hanna Eckart

Graduate Students

• Ellen Teixeira Andrade,
• Johnson Nwogu
• Hubert Agamasu

Postdocs

• Wathsala Amadoru Jayawardana