Research Group – Applied Chemistry to Technology
IPSA SCIENTIA POTESTAS EST
Our History
The Research Group on Chemistry Applied to Technology (GP-QAT) was established in 2008 at the University of the State of Amazonas (UEA) with the aim of integrating chemical knowledge with the technological and environmental needs of the Amazon. Initially focused on biotechnology and the development of sustainable industrial processes, the group expanded its activities to include environmental monitoring, establishing itself as a national reference in the field.
Over the years, GP-QAT has developed modern laboratory facilities and established the Chemical Analysis Center (CAQQAT), in addition to coordinating the Roberto dos Santos Vieira Research Vessel in partnership with the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (IPAAM), expanding the scope of sampling and analytical activities across Amazonian rivers.
GP-QAT created and coordinates the Amazonas State Water, Air and Soil Quality Monitoring Program (ProQAS/AM) and maintains partnerships with national and international institutions, including Harvard University, the University of Geneva, and the Max Planck Institute. Its history reflects a strong commitment to applied science, the training of researchers, and the sustainable development of the Amazon.
Our Journey
University of the State of Amazonas (UEA) has established itself as one of the leading centers for scientific and technological research in Northern Brazil, with significant expertise in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, biotechnology, and the development of clean technologies tailored to the Amazonian context. Since its establishment, the group has integrated research, education, innovation, and specialized technical services, with the aim of generating applied knowledge for the monitoring and conservation of Amazonian ecosystems, as well as for the sustainable transformation of local production chains.
GP-QAT initially focused its activities on biotechnology and, over time, expanded into the analysis and monitoring of water, air, and soil quality. Its research activities subsequently diversified into related fields such as ecotoxicology, materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, applied biotechnology, and the valorization of industrial waste and Amazonian biomass. This diversification has enabled the group to adopt an interdisciplinary approach, integrating chemical, biological, and technological perspectives across its projects.
With the establishment of the Center for Chemical Analysis and Chemistry Applied to Technology (CAQQAT) in 2015, the group gained access to modern laboratory infrastructure equipped with chromatography systems (GC and HPLC), spectrometric instrumentation (ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and XRF), elemental analysis (CHNS-O), spectroscopy (UV–Vis and IR-ATR), calorimetry, tensiometry, and total organic carbon and total nitrogen (TOC/TN) analysis systems, among other technologies. This infrastructure significantly expanded the group’s analytical capabilities and its capacity to provide specialized services to a wide range of sectors.
Throughout its history, GP-QAT has secured funding for several large-scale projects from Brazil’s leading research funding agencies, including CNPq, FINEP, FAPEAM, and CAPES, further establishing the group as a center of excellence in scientific research in the State of Amazonas.
Among its most prominent projects are:
PROINFRA/FINEP (2011, 2013, 2023 e 2024)
These projects enabled the expansion of CAQQAT’s infrastructure and the acquisition of several major scientific instruments, strengthening the analytical capacity of both the university and the research group to address regional research and innovation needs.
Amazonas State Water, Air and Soil Quality Monitoring Program (ProQAS/AM)
A flagship initiative integrating GP-QAT with the State Government, with support from IPAAM, CNPq, and FAPEAM, covering dozens of municipalities and generating unprecedented databases on environmental quality across the region.
PRO-ESTADO/FAPEAM (2018, 2019, 2022 e 2024)
These projects enabled the establishment of shared-use laboratory facilities and the development of environmental analytical methodologies specifically applied to Amazonian rivers.
Negro River (Manaus–São Gabriel da Cachoeira) and Madeira River (Nova Olinda do Norte–Humaitá) Monitoring Project
Both projects were conducted with an emphasis on 164 physicochemical and biological parameters, including studies on mercury contamination in partnership with Harvard University.
These projects have gained national and international recognition for combining advanced chemical analyses, remote sensing, low-cost sensor technologies, and environmental modeling. They have contributed to the development of public policies and to the improvement of water quality indices adapted to Amazonian water types, such as the Blackwater Quality Index (IQA-Pretas) developed by the group.
Over the past five years, GP-QAT has experienced significant growth in scientific output, with more than 753 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and papers presented at international conferences, indexed in databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO.
The publications cover a wide range of topics, from the analysis of emerging contaminants, the biogeochemistry of trace metals, and stable isotopes to studies on microplastics, biomaterials, and bioindicators. This scientific output reflects the group’s continued development and the growing recognition of its relevance within both the Amazonian and international scientific communities.
In addition, the group has played a significant role in the training of highly qualified professionals, supervising dozens of undergraduate research, master’s, and doctoral students, many of whom have pursued academic careers or joined environmental agencies and leading research laboratories.
GP-QAT’s scientific excellence is also reflected in its high-level international collaborations. The group maintains active partnerships with renowned institutions, including:
Collaboration with Professors Scot T. Martin and Elsie Sunderland, focused on isotopic analysis and mercury speciation in Amazonian waters, soils, and biota.
Partnership with Professor Serge Stoll, focused on microplastics research and the development of methodologies for the separation and physicochemical characterization of polymers.
Technical cooperation with Professor António Manuel Jordão, focused on the characterization of phenolic compounds from bioactive extracts derived from fungi and plants native to the Amazon region, as well as the application of fungal enzymes in beverage clarification processes.
These partnerships have resulted in scientific missions, researcher exchanges, joint publications, and participation in international research networks, increasing the group’s visibility and strengthening the State of Amazonas’ presence in the global dialogue on environmental issues and sustainability.
GP-QAT also stands out for its provision of specialized technical and technological services. Through CAQQAT, the group provides chemical analyses of water, soils, sediments, effluents, fuels, biomaterials, and industrial products, addressing the needs of municipal governments, environmental agencies, private companies, and regulatory and oversight bodies.
Its main institutional partners include the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (IPAAM), the Amazonas State Secretariat for the Environment (SEMA-AM), the Amazonas Health Surveillance Foundation (FVS-AM), the Amazonas State Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Brazilian Federal Police, the Civil Police, and the Amazonas State Civil Defense. Together, these institutions carry out joint initiatives involving environmental monitoring, technical support, and professional training.
This collaboration with public institutions strengthens the group’s institutional mission to provide scientific and technological solutions for environmental management and the sustainable development of the Amazon. GP-QAT is currently expanding its engagement with the industrial sector, particularly with companies in the Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM) and the Superintendence of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (SUFRAMA).
The goal is to establish strategic partnerships that combine innovation, sustainability, and the valorization of Amazonian biodiversity, strengthening the connection between scientific research and industrial production. To this end, the group has developed and presented projects with significant technological and economic potential, including an initiative focused on the production of hydrolytic enzymes from Amazonian microorganisms.
This project aims to develop natural biocatalysts with potential applications in the pulp and paper, cosmetics, detergent, food, and biofuel industries, replacing imported products with locally developed biotechnological solutions. In addition to reducing costs and environmental impacts, the initiative contributes to the sustainable transformation of production chains within the Manaus Industrial Pole, adding value to biodiversity and fostering the Amazonian bioeconomy.
The project is also aligned with the guidelines of SUFRAMA’s new regional development policy, which encourages the use of local biological resources and low-impact technologies as drivers of innovation.
GP-QAT continues to expand its network of cooperation and its areas of expertise, with a focus on environmental data science, smart sensors, hydrological modeling, and green chemistry. The Roberto dos Santos Vieira Research Vessel, equipped with field laboratories, will enable integrated monitoring across major river basins, further strengthening the group’s engagement with local communities and public conservation policies.
Strengthening partnerships with companies in the Manaus Industrial Pole, government agencies, and international institutions is expected to further establish GP-QAT as a leading center for the development of sustainable technologies for the Amazon, contributing to both scientific training and industrial innovation.
With nearly two decades of activity, GP-QAT stands as a concrete example of how the integration of research, technology, and socio-environmental responsibility can contribute to transforming the Amazonian context. Its history combines scientific rigor, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable development—core principles that underpin its increasingly prominent presence on the national and international scientific stage.
Declaration of the Establishment of the Chemical Analysis Center
Members Appointment Ordinance