Curricular Structure

     The academic semester starts with the period for student enrollment, similar to the University Academic Calendar. Student shall request to enroll in courses as recommended by the program coordinator, together with the advisor. The courses put together topics which characterize the area of concentration of Chemistry. Every course has the duration of one semester, consisting of 15 consecutive weeks. The Special Topics course in Chemistry can be offered during academic semesters or in special periods, regarding the accomplishment of the regimental study hours.

     In order to obtain the Master’s Degree in Chemistry, students must complete 24 credits from courses taken. They must also be approved (score 60% or more) in an English proficiency test, be approved in the qualification exam and in the thesis defense and submit a paper to a journal indexed to Chemistry Qualis. The qualification exam must be performed up to the 18th month after inital enrollment.

     In order to obtain the Doctoral Degree in Chemistry, students must complete 37 credits from courses taken. They must also be approved (score 60% or more) in a foreign  proficiency test (except English), be approved in the qualification exam, in the dissertation defense, submit a paper to a journal indexed to Chemistry Qualis. and have a paper accepeted by a a journal indexed to Chemistry Qualis. The qualification exam must be performed up to the 36th month after inital enrollment. 

     Before developing their research project, students must attend Graduate Seminar courses, aimed at enabling them to prepare a project in one of the Program’s lines of research. The Seminars are in charge of teachers of every Chemistry area.

     After completing their master’s thesis, together with their respective advisors, students must start the public defense process. The necessary credits to obtain the title must be reached within 24 months.  For doctoral stutents, the necessary credits to obtain the title must be reached within 48 months. In both cases an extra time of 6 months can be requested to the Program by a reasoned process.

     Courses:

Biochemistry Applied To Technological And Environmental Chemistry Importance of biochemistry for technological and environmental chemistry. Functional molecules. Proteins. Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids. Enzymes (enzyme kinetics). Main variables that affect enzyme activity. Control of enzymatic activity. Enzymes of industrial importance. Principles of carbohydrate metabolism. Principles of Protein Metabolism. Principles of lipid metabolism. Principles of photosynthesis. Biochemical processes in products of animal and vegetable origin.
Characterization Of Inorganic Compounds Introduction of synthesis and characterization of inorganic metallic compounds. Concepts equipment handling, acquisition, and interpretation of results and preparation inorganic samples. Main techniques sed to characterize compounds inorganic metals: X-ray diffraction (Rietveld method), microscopy of electron scanning (ME), electron transmission microscopy (MET), X-ray spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, elemental microanalysis, UV-VIS spectroscopy, FT-IR and Raman, thermal methods, analysis elementary, resonance techniques.
Catalysis Historical aspects of catalysis. Basic concepts in catalysis. Types of catalytic systems. Characteristics of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Coordination compounds and organometallic complexes applied in catalysis. Mechanism reaction (catalytic steps). Preparation and characterization of solids catalysts. Supported Catalysts. The most important industrial catalytic processes
Organometal Compounds General Properties. Organometallic compounds of the representative elements. Organometallic compounds of transition metals. Chemical bonds. Reaction mechanisms. Characterization of organometallic compounds. Applications in catalysis and organic synthesis.
Applied Chromatography Historical development and current importance. Chromatography principles: basic separation concepts, separation processes dominated by adsorption, absorption, ion exchange, molecular exclusion and affinity chromatography. Gas chromatography: the gas chromatograph, choice of phases and applications. High-resolution liquid chromatography: the chromatograph, considerations on mobile and stationary phases, the choice of phases and their applications, analytical and preparative separations, care that must be observed in the preparation of the mobile phase and samples. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Validation of chromatographic methods. Quantitative qualitative analysis. Chromatographic column evaluation test (resolution, efficiency, etc).
Master Degree Reporting Prepare the master's thesis for qualification and defense through a board examiner.
Doctor Degree Reporting Prepare the doctoral thesis for qualification and defense through an examining board.
Atomic Spectrometry Theory of atomic spectrometry: processes of emission, absorption and fluorescence. Flame atomic absorption spectrometric (F AAS): atomic vapor production, types of flames, burners and nebulizers. Instrumentation in atomic spectrometry: main components, basic operating principles, interference. Analysis by atomic spectrometry: limit of detection, analytical curve, method of adding standards, alternative techniques for introducing samples. Atomization systems of high sensitivity: graphite furnace (GF AAS), cold vapour system (CVG AAS), hydride generation system (HG AAS), equipment for GF AAS, advantages and disadvantages of electrothermal technique, thermodynamic and kinetic aspects, temperature programming, STPF concept. Background correction: deuterium lamp, halogen, Zeeman effect. Theory about optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP OES). Theory about mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) for inorganic analysis: principles of production and separation of inorganic ions in mass spectrometers. Instrumentation in ICP OES and ICP-MS: main parts, sample introduction systems, plasma, optical emission spectrometer. Experimental application of the ICP OES and ICP-MS technique. Spectral and non-spectral interferences in ICP OES and ICP-MS. Hyphenated techniques.
Advanced Spectroscopy And Diffractometry Advanced vibrational spectroscopy: Raman and infrared. Dipole moment and polarizability. Vectors and tensors. Symmetry and character tables. Vibrational normal modes analysis. Advanced electronic spectroscopy: electronic transitions. Orbitals, microstates and couplings. Spectroscopic terms and energy splitting. Correlation diagrams. Interpretation of UV-Vis spectra. Advanced X-ray diffraction: crystal and amorphous structures. Waves. Points, planes and crystallographic directions. Diffractograms indexing. Bravais lattices. Systematic and general absences. Structural factors. Electronic density. Data refinement.
Doctoral Teaching Internship I Participation of the doctoral student in undergraduate activities, as a complement to the pedagogical training of doctors.
Doctoral Teaching Internship Ii Participation of the doctoral student in undergraduate activities, as a complement to the pedagogical training of doctors.
Master Teaching Internship Participation of master students in undergraduate activities, as a complementation of the pedagogical training of teachers.
Advanced Physical Chemistry I Alternative approaches to classical thermodynamics; Thermodynamics of ideal and non-ideal systems with different forms of energy; Second principle of thermodynamics: approach by Caratheodory, Boltzmann and Prigogine.
Advanced Physical Chemistry Ii Thermodynamic stability; Calculation of variations for thermodynamic extremes; Non-equilibrium thermodynamics: entropy production, Onsager relations, transport and dissipation; Non-equilibrium thermodynamics: steady state, non-linear systems, instability and oscillations.
Photochemistry - Principles And Applications Basic principles and application in different systems: organic, inorganic, homogeneous, and heterogeneous
Processos fotoquímicos primários e totais. Photochemical Processes: Primary and totals. Photochemical reaction mechanisms. Physical and chemical deactivations of excited states. Atmospheric and stratospheric photochemistry. Photo catalysis. Photochemistry applications. Photo hydrogen generation. Solar cells. Functionalization of materials induced by photons.
Photochemistry on surfaces.
Introduction To Biorrefinery Biomass Refinery Concept. Context: Biomass, Biorefinery, Bioproducts, and Biomaterials. Importance of Biorefinery today and for the future. Study of the main types of Biorefinery and processes general biorefining. Thermochemical and Fermentative Processes. Main Biorefinery products: building blocks for chemical industrial synthesis, thermochemistry, and petrochemistry. Main sources of raw materials and possible production routes for basic chemicals and chemical products pasta. Applications.
Electrochemical Methods Of Analysis Electrochemical thermodynamics and kinetics, processes of transfer of mass and instrumentation methods.
Spectroscopic Methods For Analysis Of Organic Compounds Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy: basis of the technique, practical aspects (solvents and
cells), main applications. Infrared Spectroscopy: types of vibrations and
corresponding frequencies, practical aspects (physical state of the sample, solvents, and
cells), main applications. Mass spectrometry: basic concepts, advances technological and main applications. Uni- and bidimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in a liquid state. Introduction to uni- and two-dimensional solid-state NMR: static NMR and with rotation in the magic angle.
Qspr / Qsar Modeling: Fundamentals And Applications Fundamentals of molecular modeling: Dynamic molecular modeling. Modeling
static molecular (Standard Geometry); Development of molecular models
standard geometry. Homology and principle of Brönsted-Koefoed congruence; Equations
QSPR and QSAR: properties (physical, chemical, etc.) of substances. Biological activity,
ecotoxicological, medicinal chemistry, etc.) of substances. Structure and properties of
QSPR / QSAR equations. Monotonic functions; Molecular descriptors and predictors:
Obtaining geometric, topological, quantum, and content descriptors
information; Fundamentals of statistics. Regression analysis (linear, multilinear, and not
linear). Multivariate analysis. Absolute and relative error; Performance evaluation of descriptors in QSPR / QSAR modeling. Comparison of calculated versus data experimental or literature. Structure of property databases and activities.
Nanotechnology i) Introduction to nanotechnology: quantum confinement effect, properties
due to size, surface effects; ii) Quantum-dots: basic concepts and
examples; iii) Techniques for preparing nanomaterials: sol-gel, colloidal methods, CVD,
template, among others; iv) Techniques for characterizing nanomaterials: spectroscopy
IV, Raman, UV-Vis, TGA / DSC, DRX, XPS, MEV, MET, STM, AFM; v) Structure, properties and
applications of nanostructured materials: nanotubes and other nanostructures based on
carbon - growth mechanisms, purification techniques; metallic nanowires;
nanocatalysts - Au, Pt, Rh nanoparticles; Polymeric nanocomposites - classification of nanoparticles, thermoplastic materials, elastomers, resins epoxy; nanobiomaterials - chemical and biomolecular functionalization techniques, molecular recognition, biosensors.
Chemical Oil Introduction. Structure and composition of oils and fats. Physical properties of fatty substances: main reactions of oils and fats. Main applications technological development of raw materials and fatty products. Oil extraction technology. Oil refining technology. Chemical oil transformation technology. Main chemical analysis techniques and physical characterization methods: identification of oils and fats.
Unitary Operations Mass and energy balance. Fluid Dynamics. Particulate systems: particle dynamics and mixing theory, applications, size reduction, classification, mechanical separations, transport of solids. Heat transfer: heat exchangers and evaporators. Mass and / or heat transfer operations: drying, distillation, absorption. Contact separation processes: leaching and extraction.
Design Of Experiments In Analytical Chemistry Introduction to design of experiments (DoE). Key statistical concepts and basic Statistics. Univariate approaches: Single Factor Planning. Sample size. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Latin and Graeco-Latin squares designs. Effects, interactions and errors. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Model Fitness and Prediction. Factorial Design. Response Surface (RSM). Sample preparation methods optimization. Instrumental methods optimization. Chromatography and Design of Experiments: many simultaneous responses. Software for DoE.
Aquatic Pollution Main organic contaminants and their environmental aspects. Importance, occurrence, sources, and cycling of contaminants in the aquatic environment. Main effects and impacts of organic contaminants on the aquatic environment. Identification method and quantification of organic contaminants in environmental samples. Environmental monitoring programs.
Sample Preparation 1 Basics on sample preparation for determination organic compounds. Classical techniques for subsequent determination of organic compounds: liquid-liquid extraction, Soxhlet, ultrasound, microwave, mechanical agitation. Modern techniques for subsequent determination of organic compounds: solid phase extraction, solid phase microextraction, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, liquid phase microextraction, extraction with supercritical fluid, accelerated solvent extraction, Stir bar sorptive extraction, QuEChERS. Sampling and sample preparation concepts. Steps of a chemical analysis.
Sample Preparation Ii Elements of sample preparation. Presentation of classic and modern sample preparation methods for different matrices, aiming at the subsequent elementary determination and speciation analysis. Sampling concepts and sample preparation. Steps of a chemical analysis. Sampling procedures: solids, liquids and gases. Sample preparation steps. Fundamentals of analytical chemistry and sample preparation for elementary analysis. Fusion decomposition. Wet decomposition: open and closed systems with conventional heating or microwave. Combustion decomposition: open systems, closed systems and dynamic systems. Alternative decomposition methods. Advantages and limitations of decomposition methods. Methods of preparing samples assisted by ultrasound. Direct analysis of solid samples. Sample preparation methods applied to chemical speciation analysis.
Processes In Organic Contaminants The discipline aims to transmit the basic concepts of the processes that involve training, distribution, cycling, transport mechanisms, assimilation and transfer along the food chain, degradation of the main contaminants found in the biotic and abiotic compartments of aquatic environments.
Environmental Chemistry Trace elements: classification and importance. Environmental and toxicological aspects. Elements of environmental chemistry: biogeochemical cycles. Potentially toxic organic compounds. Main environmental problems: causes of environmental pollution. Aspects of general toxicology. Natural and anthropogenic environmental pollution. Pollution of air, water, soil, by solid waste. Polluting organic and inorganic compounds. Energy sources and sustainable development. Water resources and environmental preservation.
Advanced Analytical Chemistry Statistics applied to analytical chemistry: significant algharisms, errors, error propagation, merit parameters, validation of analytical methods, comparison of results and means (F and t tests), linear regression parameters, design of experiments, introduction to ANOVA. Debye-Huckel theory: ionic strength and activity, Debye-Hückel laws (limit and extended), activity coefficient in high ionic strength, non-electrolyte activity coefficient, equilibrium constant and activity coefficient. Non-aqueous solvents: solvent properties, classification, acid-base equilibrium in non-aqueous media, electrical potential and conductivity in non-aqueous media. Acid-base equilibrium: monoprotic acids and bases, polyfunctional acids and bases (species distribution), graphical representation of the acid-base equilibrium. Solubility equilibrium: influence of pH, common ion, other ions, hydrolysis. Complexation equilibrium: distribution of species in equilibrium, formation constants, pH influence on complexation equilibrium, complexation equilibrium and solubility. Equilibrium in oxireduction reactions: mechanisms of oxyduction reactions, spontaneity of oxyduction reactions, simultaneous equilibrium involving oxyduction, acid-base, complexation and solubility.
Heterocyclic Chemistry The subject is an advanced course in organic chemistry emphazing the chemistry of heterocyclic compounds. The nomenclature and structures of important classes of heterocyclic aromatic organic compounds. Classification simple heterocyclic aromatic compounds as electron deficient or electron rich and explain their reactivity based on these properties. To understand on a mechanistic level, reactions and synthesis of important nitrogen containing electron deficient heterocycles; pyridines, diazines and their benzo-condenced analogs. To understand on a mechanistic level, reactions and synthesis of important oxygen containing electron deficient heterocycles; pyrilium and benzopyrilium ions, pyrones and benzopyrones. To understand on a mechanistic level, reactions and synthesis of important electron rich heterocycles; furans, pyrroles and thiophenes and 1,3-azoles, and benzo-condenced analogs. Be able to explain on a mechanistic level, reactions and synthesis of purines.
Chemistry Of Natural Products Introduction of secondary and primary metabolites. Production of secondary metabolites as plant defense. Biosynthesis of phenolics compounds. Coumarin structure, nomenclature and biosynthesis. Structure, nomenclature and biosynthesis of flavonoids. Structure, nomenclature and biosynthesis of lignans. Structure, nomenclature and biosynthesis of tannins. Structure, nomenclature and biosynthesis of terpenes. Structure, nomenclature and biosynthesis of alkaloids. Main routes of application of natural products according to secondary metabolites. Biological tests: antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity and insecticidal activity of plant extracts. Allelopathic potential of cover crop and the control of spontaneous plants. Material preparation: collection, drying and grinding. Extraction methods (hot and cold). Extraction fractionation (different solvents). Chromatographic methods for the isolation of natural compounds.
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I Coordination chemistry: introduction, nomenclature, ligand classification, Pearson theory, valence bond theory, ligand field theory, molecular orbital theory, chelate effect, mold effect, formation constant of complexes, isomerism, bioinorganic importance of coordination compounds.
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Ii Ligand substitution reactions: thermodynamic considerations, ligand replacement speed and classification of mechanisms. Replacement of ligands in flat quadratic complexes: nucleophilicity of the input group, geometry of the state of transition.Replacement of ligands in octahedral complexes: laws of speed, activation of octahedral complexes, basic hydrolysis, stereochemistry and isomerization reactions. Oxy-reduction reactions: classification of oxireduction reactions, internal sphere mechanism and external sphere mechanism. Photochemical reactions: immediate and delayed reactions, d-d and charge transfer reactions and electronic transitions in metal-to-metal bonded systems.
Advanced Organic Chemistry I transition.Replacement of ligands in octahedral complexes: laws of speed, activation of octahedral complexes, basic hydrolysis, stereochemistry and isomerization reactions. Oxy-reduction reactions: classification of oxireduction reactions, internal sphere mechanism and external sphere mechanism. Photochemical reactions: immediate and delayed reactions, d-d and charge transfer reactions and electronic transitions in metal-to-metal bonded systems.
Advanced Organic Chemistry Ii Pericyclic reactions. Definition of Hückel and Möbius systems: aromaticity. Frost and Anulenes diagram. Electrocyclic processes: corrotatory and disrotatory movement. Sigmatropic rearrangements. Pericyclic reactions. Sigmatropic rearrangements, Cycloaddition reactions. Diels-Alder reaction: theoretical foundation. Topology of molecular orbitals: suprafacial and antarafacial interaction. Attribution of symbols and according to Woodward-Hoffman. Alkylation of Carbon Enolates. Enolates and Enamines. Reactions of Carbon Nucleophils and Carbonyl Compounds. Aldolic condensation. Interconversion of Functional Groups by Nucleophilic Substitution.
Scaling Up Of Chemical Proces Introduction to dimensional analysis. Scale theory. Physical resemblance. Theorem of Vaschy-Buckingham. Numbers: Techniques for obtaining complete sets of numbers independent of each other. Fluid mechanics problems. Heat transmission problems. Common errors in the use of dimensional analysis for scaling chemical processes. Examples of Scaling up in unit operations. Examples of Scaling up in unit operations (mechanical, thermal operations) and processes (with chemical reaction). Criteria for scaling mixing time in chemical reactors.
Seminar I Presentation of a seminar on relevant subjects in the area of ​​the master's student.
Seminar II Presentation of a seminar on relevant subjects in the area of ​​work of the doctoral student
Organic Synthesis Introduction of Synthetic concepts and strategies. Retrosynthesis. Linear and convergent synthesis. Stereocontrol in reactions. Sigmatropic rearrangements. Oxidative methods: epoxidation and dihydroxylation reactions. Additions of enols and enolates to carbonyl and imine compounds. Protection of functional groups. Addition of organometallic compounds to carbonyl compounds. Addition of carbon nucleophiles to carbonyl systems. Models by Cram, Felkin-Ahn and Burgi-Dunitz; Reduction reactions. Multicomponent reactions: Biginelli, Hantzsch, Ugi, Passerini and variations. Mannich and Michael reaction. Wittig reaction. Olefin Metathesis Reaction
Special Topics In Physicochemiscal Presentation of topical subjects in Physicochemiscal and/or new topics and a special interest in research in the area.
Special Topics In Chemitry Presentation of topical subjects in Chemistry and/or new topics and a special interest in research in the area.
Special Topics In Analytical Chemistry Presentation of topical subjects in Analytical Chemistry and/or new topics and special interest for research in the area.
Special Topics In Chemitryiii Presentation of topical subjects in Chemistry and/or new topics and a special interest in research in the area.
Special Topics In Inorganic Chemistry Presentation of topical subjects in Inorganic Chemistry and/or new topics and a special interest in research in the area.
Special Topics In Inorganic Chemistryii Presentation of topical subjects in Inorganic Chemistry and/or new topics and a special interest in research in the area.
Special Topics In Organic Chemistry Presentation of topical subjects in Organic Chemistry and/or new topics and a special interest in research in the area.
Special Topics In Chemitryii Presentation of topical subjects in Chemistry and/or new topics and a special interest in research in the area.
Special Topics In Chemitryiv Presentation of topical subjects in Chemistry and/or new topics and a special interest in research in the area.
Food Toxicology Current situation of Food Toxicology. Toxicology history: concepts and definitions in toxicology. Biochemical aspects of toxicology. Characteristics of the toxicant / individual interaction. Biochemical aspects of toxicology. Mechanism biotransformation of toxicants. Biochemical aspects of toxicology. Manifestations of damage caused by toxic agents. Work on the risks of intoxication resulting from fraud, forgery, and adulteration. Toxic substances are naturally present in animal foods. Toxic substances are naturally present in tissues of plant origin. Toxic formed during industrial and domestic food processing. Reflections on food toxicology. Incidental contamination of food: metals and pesticides. Incidental contamination of food: additives and residues from industrial activity. Toxicological assessment of foods: protocols and procedures. The toxicological situation of dairy products.