Renata Piacentini Rodriguez
Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences
Biochemical pharmacist Renata Rodriguez graduated from Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho and earned her master’s degree in biotechnology. She furthered her academic journey with a Ph.D. in hydraulic engineering and sanitation from the University of São Paulo. Her post-doctoral studies took her to the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States. Renata’s passion for chemical transformations extends beyond her professional life and into her kitchen, where she experiments with various cake recipes. In addition to her research, she is a dedicated mother to two children. Music is a source of joy in their home. Renata plays the keyboard and loves rock ‘n roll. Currently, she shares her knowledge and experience as a lecturer at the Federal University of Alfenas, in Minas Gerais.
Projects
The biological treatment of low-pH effluents presents a significant challenge from both a biochemical and engineering perspective, particularly due to the unclear relationship between the sulphur and iron cycles in these environments. Thermodynamically, sulphate reduction is more favorable at pH levels above 7.0. However, under acidic conditions, the free energy derived from iron reduction is five times greater than that released in sulfate reduction. Despite this, there is a lack of studies examining the competition between iron (III) and sulfate at pH levels below 7.0. Whether iron (III) serves as the primary electron receptor in acidic environments when sulphate is present remains a matter of debate. This project aims to explore the relationship between Fe (III) and sulphate as electron receptors in low pH environments, and to identify the factors that influence the use of sulphate and/or Fe (III) by sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) under acidic conditions. To date, no studies have been published demonstrating this behavior in real systems; existing knowledge is based solely on simulations.
