World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated every year on April 26th, with the aim of highlighting the role of patents in encouraging creativity. Instituto Superior Técnico has highlighted some of the inventions patented by the School’s professors and researchers, disseminating talent and innovation. This year’s edition focuses on the role of innovation and creativity in the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations, highlighting two projects developed by Técnico researchers focused on topics such as Sustainable Production and Consumption (goal 12), Sustainable Cities and Communities (goal 11), Eradicating Hunger (goal 2) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (goal 9).

The use of biocement to capture CO2 in the soil – Rafaela Cardoso

Biocementation is the process of producing biocement through the action of bacteria. Rafaela Cardoso, a full professor at Técnico and a researcher at Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), has been working on biocementation for land improvement since 2013. Interested in the hydromechanics of clays and the chemical interaction of bacteria with this material, she realised that she could use carbon dioxide (CO2) in these processes, a gas that plays an important role in the greenhouse effect.

After preliminary work in which she studied improvements in the production of biocement with CO2 from carbonated water (commonly consumed), she found “very encouraging results”. This gave rise to the idea of a method for CO2 sequestration in soils. “The idea is that the bacteria, with the CO2, can produce biocement in the soil,” she explains.

To this end, it is necessary to inject the greenhouse gas into the soil and seal it using bentonite mud, a type of clay used in various civil engineering applications. Because it is sealed under this material, the CO2 does not escape from the soil, giving the bacteria time to convert it into carbonate ions, which are essential for biocement production.

With the idea now patented, Rafaela Cardoso shares encouraging words for Técnico students: “It all starts with a useful idea – you should try to put it into practice with small proofs of concept”, she explains. This was one of the things she was asked to do when she applied for the patent, to show that it was feasible. She also warns that, in most cases, a team and joint work is necessary, as well as facilities where this work can be done. “Técnico is a school that provides the means to carry out tests to see if the idea progresses or not, and also provides all the support needed to draw up the patents”, she says.

Plasma technology in the sustainable production of fertilisers – Júlio Henriques

“It’s an innovative technology that uses microwave plasmas to produce nitrogen-based fertilisers,” explains Júlio Henriques, a researcher at the Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion (IPFN) who developed this patent. The process uses raw materials abundant in nature, such as water and air, which are sources of hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. As for the electricity needed, production is guaranteed by solar panels, and the technology does not emit CO2, one of the problems with traditional methods of producing this type of fertiliser (often chemical methods that consume energy and release CO2).

It is an autonomous device – it produces the fertiliser on site, at the place of application, which solves a number of other problems. It needs no transport or storage and can be used anywhere on Earth where there is sun. The energy is produced by solar panels. “Where there’s agriculture, there’s usually sun, air and water,” explains the IPFN researcher, thus meeting all the conditions for the equipment to work. “It’s decentralised production. It can be applied in areas of food shortage, where the population doesn’t have access to fertilisers”, either due to a lack of industry or even roads for transporting and distributing these substances.

“Without fertilisers, we wouldn’t have the yields that we have today in food production, and also, people who don’t have access to fertilisers usually suffer from food shortages because of this”, says Júlio Henriques.

As for the process of creating the patent, the researcher warns “it’s not a simple thing – it’s almost like creating a computer code because it has its own language”. However, he argues “it’s important for Técnico students to have some experience in developing and writing patents, because it’s their way of protecting their ideas and intellectual property, so that they can enjoy their inventions”. “By patenting their ideas, they also have something to show”, he concludes.

Intellectual property covers industrial property rights as well as copyright and related rights. For members of Técnico academic community who wish to communicate an invention, they can find detailed information on the procedures to be adopted and the respective Técnico Intellectual Property Regulations via the Técnico Technology Transfer Area.