Sergio Lima is currently serving as the Research Director at Green Fuels Research, a position he has held since September 2022. In his role, he is actively involved in the research and development of sustainable catalytic processes and technologies for upgrading renewable feedstocks, such as biomass wastes, to biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel through the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) route. His responsibilities also include overseeing scaling-up and biorefinery operations.
EDUCATION
Sergio Lima’s academic background includes a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Aveiro, where he specialized in the physical chemistry field. He completed his doctoral studies from 2000 to 2005. Prior to his Ph.D., he obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemistry, with a focus on Analytical Chemistry, from the University of Aveiro, graduating in 1999.
CAREER
Prior to his current position, Sergio Lima worked as a Research Manager at Green Fuels Research for three years and two months, from January 2020 to February 2023. In this role, he contributed to the development of sustainable catalytic processes and technologies for biofuel production, emphasizing his expertise in the physical chemistry field.
Before joining Green Fuels Research, Sergio Lima worked as a Senior Research Scientist at the same organization for one year and seven months, from July 2018 to January 2020. His focus during this period was on the development of sustainable catalytic processes and technologies for upgrading renewable feedstocks, with an emphasis on biomass wastes.
Before his work at Green Fuels Research, Sergio Lima gained experience as a Research Associate at Imperial College London for three years and five months, from August 2017 to June 2018. His research at Imperial College London focused on the relationships between lignin oil properties and the susceptibility of lignin oil to downstream catalytic upgrading, specifically in the areas of wood chemistry, catalysis, and reaction engineering.
Sergio Lima has a strong track record in catalytic routes for sustainable processes, with expertise in upstream and downstream processes of plant biomass, catalytic upstream biorefining, early-stage catalytic conversion of lignin, catalytic transfer hydrogenations, hydroprocessing, and scaling-up plant biomass deconstruction and fractionation for lignin extraction and upgrading.
Overall, Sergio Lima’s professional journey showcases his dedication to advancing sustainable processes, particularly in the field of biofuel production, through his roles in research and academia.
