Maria Manuela Fonseca

Maria Manuela Regalo da Fonseca

associate professor, retired professor

I-1321-2012

Web of Science profile

iBB Group: 2brg

manuela.fonseca@ist.utl.pt

Expertise: Bioreactors; Organic-aqueous systems; Polyhydroxyalkanoates; Macroalgal biorefineries.

Short Bio:

Master in Advanced Chemical Engineering (1978) and PhD in Biochemical Engineering (1983) from the University of Manchester, U.K.. Became engaged in the creation of the Biochemical Engineering academic and research group at IST led by Professor Novais together with Joaquim Cabral and Isabel Sá Correia, which constituted the embryo of Biotechnology in Portugal. Developed the area of biochemical reactors. Two European projects on the use of organic-aqueous systems for optically pure intermediates. Strong interest on the production of PHAs from waste glycerol and agrowaste hydrolysates. More recently, with Dr Teresa Cesário, work on the upgrade of macroalgae for obtaining biochemicals and bionutrients. Currently retired as Associate Professor, still accompanying the ongoing research in Blue Biotechnology.

ORCID

SCOPUS

Research Focus:

Industrial biotechnology/bioprocess areas, topics including (i) upgrade of waste glycerol, industrial agri-food residues, urban waste and of algal hydrolysates by microbial cultures, (ii) bioproduction of chemical intermediates, artificial sweeteners and PHAs.

PROMISEANG -Alternative Proteins from microbial fermentation of non-conventional sea sources for next-generation food, feed and non-food bio-based applications (Horizon-JU-CBE-RIA-2022- 101112378).
BLUE BIOECONOMY PACT- Project cofounded by Next Generation EU European Fund, under the incentive line “Agendas for Business Innovation” within Component Funding Scheme 5 – Capitalization and Business Innovation of the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP),(Project Nº. C644915664-00000026).

SMARTSEAWEED- Smart Valorization of Macroalgae (FA-05-2017-033- DGPM-PT). http:// www.smartseaweed.net

ALGAEPLAS- Seaweed biorefinery for the upgrade of carbohydrates to sustainable bioplastics (FCT- PTDC/BII-BIO/29242/2017).

BUGWORKERS- New tailor-made PHB-based nanocomposites for high performance applications produced from environmentally friendly production routes (FP7/2007-2013 number 246449).

Leandro T, Teles M, Gomes-Dias JS, Marques M, Rocha CMR, da Fonseca MMR and Cesário MT (2023) Ulva rigida valorization into poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), organic acids and functional ingredientes. Mar. Drugs 21, 537. doi.org/10.3390/md21100537

Leandro T, Oliveira MC, da Fonseca MMR and Cesário MT (2023), Co-production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and gluconic acid from glucose by Halomonas elongata. Bioengineering, 10, 643. doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10060643

Bondar M, Pedro F, Oliveira MC, da Fonseca MMR and Cesário MT (2022), Red algae industrial residues as a sustainable carbon platform for the coproduction of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and gluconic acid by Halomonas boliviensis. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 10:934432. doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.934432

Gordalina M, Pinheiro HM, Mateus M, da Fonseca MMR and Cesário MT (2021) Macroalgae as Protein Sources: A Review on Protein Bioactivity, Extraction, Purification and Characterization. Applied Sciences 11 17: 7969. doi.org/10.3390/app11177969

Izaguirre JK, da Fonseca MMR, Castañón S, Villarán MC, Cesário MT (2020). Giving credit to residual bioresources: From municipal solid waste hydrolysate and waste plum juice to poly (3-hydroxybutyrate). Waste Management, 118: 534-540. doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.09.014

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Maria Manuela Regalo da Fonseca