Rafael Lopes Quirino, Ph.D.

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

1. Destiny Williams
2. John Tarr
3. Hanna Eckart

Graduate Students

1. Ellen Teixeira Andrade,
2. Johnson Nwogu
3. Hubert Agamasu

Postdocs

1. Wathsala Amadoru Jayawardana