Ricardo N. Pereira graduated in Food Engineering in 2003 by the Portuguese Catholic University, in Porto, Portugal. He has obtained MSc degree in Biotechnology - Bioprocess in 2007 and finished his PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering (CEB) in 2011, both degrees at the School of Engineering, University of Minho (UMinho), in Braga, Portugal. Since 2013, its scientific merit and leadership lead to: i) several of talks and publications in international conferences; ii) support scientific internship and supervision of several Doctoral and Master students from national and international institutions ; iii) become editor of the books and guest editor of scientific journal; iv) participation in the writing, and as team member of national/international scientific projects with a total income of 400k of funds to the host institution CEB; and v) and scientific recognition by obtaining a Assistant Researcher contract under FCT call for Individual Scientific Employment Stimulus(CEECIND/029
EDUCATION
-Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering, “Development of integrated food processing technologies based on the application of electric fields – Effects on denaturation of milk proteins”, UM, PT. From 2007 to 2011
-Master’s in science in Biotechnology – Bioprocess, “Analysis of Goat Milk Lipid Fraction Stability -Pumping and Thermal Effects on Free Fatty Acids Profile” UM, PT. From 2005 to 2007
-Graduation in Food Engineering, Portuguese Catholic University, Porto, PT. From 1998 to 2003
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Food technoogy, Innovative food processing, moderate electric fields, pulsed electric fields, ohmic heating, protein functionality, allergenicity
Assessment of Marine Microalgae's Bioactive Extracts Potential for Food Applications V. Sousa, M. Coelho, J. Martins, R. N. Pereira, F. Maciel, et al. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 2026 The growing demand for sustainable and functional food ingredients has driven interest in marine microalgae as a source of bioactive compounds. This study evaluates the bioactivity, safety, and metabolite profile of extracts from Dunaliella salina and Pavlova gyrans , produced through two extraction methods: osmotic shock and bead milling with ethanol. Aqueous extracts were rich in peptides and amino acids, while ethanolic extracts contained higher pigment concentrations, underlining distinct nutritional biochemistry profiles. Both extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity (4 mg mL − 1 ), with aqueous extracts demonstrating a stronger effect. Cellular antioxidant activity assays using the Caco‐2 cell line confirmed comparable efficacy between extraction methods. Antibacterial tests revealed that D. salina extracts effectively inhibited Listeria innocua , Escherichia coli , and Staphylococcus epidermidis , while P. gyrans extracts showed activity against L. innocua , E. coli , Bacillus cereus , and Pseudomonas fluorescens . Additionally, both microalgae extracts demonstrated functional food potential by inhibiting α‐glucosidase (27%–36%) and angiotensin‐converting enzyme (21.7%–37.9%), suggesting antidiabetic and antihypertensive properties. Cell viability assays confirmed the extracts’ safety for potential food applications. These findings support the sustainable use of D. salina and P. gyrans as innovative bioactive ingredients for functional and eco‐friendly food formulations.
Powering up brewing: ohmic heating's effect on the extraction of key sensory compounds from hop pellets Gonçalo Carvalho, Eduardo Coelho, Rui M. Rodrigues, António A. Vicente, Ricardo Nuno Pereira Sustainable Food Technology, 2025 This study evaluates ohmic heating (OH) technology as an alternative to wort boiling in brewing and its impact on the extraction of key sensory compounds in beer—essential oils, alpha-acids, and polyphenols—from hop pellets.
Modulation of Enzymatic Activity by Moderate Electric Fields: Perspectives for Prebiotic Epilactose Production via Cellobiose-2-Epimerase Tiago Lima de Albuquerque, Ricardo N. Pereira, Sara C. Silvério, Lígia R. Rodrigues Processes, 2025 Modulating enzymatic activity through physical strategies is increasingly recognized as a powerful approach to optimizing biocatalytic processes in food and biotechnology applications. Cellobiose 2-epimerase (C2E), a key enzyme for synthesizing epilactose, a non-digestible disaccharide with established prebiotic effects, is gaining relevance in functional foods. Emerging strategies, such as the application of moderate electric fields (MEFs), have attracted attention due to their non-thermal, non-invasive nature and their capacity to influence the structural and functional properties of proteins. This review assesses the potential of MEFs to modulate C2E activity and provides an overview of the physicochemical principles governing MEF–protein interactions and summarizes findings from various enzymatic systems, highlighting changes in activity, stability, and substrate affinity under electric field conditions. Particular attention is given to the mechanistic plausibility and processing implications of applying MEFs to C2E-catalyzed reactions. The integration of biochemical, structural, and engineering perspectives suggests that MEF-assisted modulation could overcome current bottlenecks in epilactose production. This approach may enable the sustainable valorization of lactose-rich byproducts and support the development of non-thermal, clean-label technologies for producing functional ingredients.
Effect of Ohmic Heating Pretreatment on Enzyme Production by Solid-State Fermentation of Brewer’s Spent Grain Bruna F. Silva, Luís Machado, Ana M. Fernandes, Ricardo N. Pereira, Isabel Belo Fermentation, 2025 Solid-state fermentation (SSF) involves the growth of microorganisms on solid substrates, mimicking natural environments of many species. Due to sustainability concerns, transforming agro-industrial by-products into value-added products through SSF has been increasingly studied. Brewer’s spent grain (BSG), the main by-product of beer production, mostly consists of barley grain husks, making BSG a great support for microorganism cultivation. Although autoclaving remains the standard sterilization and pretreatment method of substrates, electric field technologies and their attendant ohmic heating (OH) have great potential as an alternative technology. In the present work, pretreatment of BSG by OH was explored in SSF with Aspergillus niger to produce commercially valuable enzymes. OH favored the solubilization of phenolic compounds, total protein, and reducing sugars significantly higher than autoclaving. SSF of treated BSG led to the production of lignocellulosic enzymes, with xylanases being the most active, reaching 540 U/g, a 1.5-fold increase in activity compared to autoclaved BSG. Protease activity was also improved 1.6-fold by OH, resulting in 49 U/g. Our findings suggest that OH treatment is an effective alternative to autoclaving and that its integration with SSF is a sustainable strategy to enhance by-product valorization through enzyme production with many industrial applications, according to circular economy guidelines.
Geological controls for Compressed Air Energy Storage in porous media R Pereira Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 214541 , 2026 2026
Production and characterization of potato protein-based cryogels produced by different gelation mechanisms AC Leite, AA Vicente, RN Pereira, C Mendes, RM Rodrigues Food Hydrocolloids, 112658 , 2026 2026
Ecocide, human rights and the prospects for corporate accountability before the international criminal court and domestic courts R Pereira Hart Publishing: Bloomsbury , 2026 2026
Gitelman Syndrome With Two Variants of Uncertain Significance: A Case Report R Bragança, M Azevedo, R Pereira, AF Rebelo, M Azevedo Sr Cureus 18 (1) , 2026 2026
Assessment of Marine Microalgae's Bioactive Extracts Potential for Food Applications V Sousa, M Coelho, J Martins, RN Pereira, F Maciel, M Pintado, O Dias, ... Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 70 (2), e70398 , 2026 2026
Chitosan cryogels reinforced with nanocellulose–chitosome hybrid systems for enhanced mucoadhesive properties NO Okamoto-Schalch, RN Pereira, AA Vicente, RA de Carvalho, ... Next Materials 10, 101543 , 2026 2026
Advancements in ulvan valorization from Ulva rigida: Unveiling a combined approach of electric fields and subcritical water extraction SG Pereira, RN Pereira, S Ferreira, C Nunes, JA Teixeira, CMR Rocha Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 104318 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Impact of ohmic heating conditions on the behavior of metallized flexible packaging L Marangoni Júnior, RM Rodrigues, RN Pereira, D Ito, FG Teixeira, ... Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization 19 (10), 7404-7413 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Modulation of Enzymatic Activity by Moderate Electric Fields: Perspectives for Prebiotic Epilactose Production via Cellobiose-2-Epimerase TL Albuquerque, RN Pereira, SC Silvério, LR Rodrigues Processes 13 (9), 2671 , 2025 2025
Effect of Ohmic Heating Pretreatment on Enzyme Production by Solid-State Fermentation of Brewer’s Spent Grain BF Silva, L Machado, AM Fernandes, RN Pereira, I Belo Fermentation 11 (8), 421 , 2025 2025
Business, Human Rights and Natural Resource Governance: Accountability for a Just Transition R Pereira, L McConnell, A Savaresi Bloomsbury , 2025 2025
Microalgae extracts reduce appetite in zebrafish larvae linked to long-chain fatty acids and 5′-methylthioadenosine JS Moxó, AC Fonseca, G Matos, J Saraiva, R Pereira, C Rocha, ... Algal Research 88, 104003 , 2025 2025
Protein aerogels as food-grade delivery systems-A comprehensive review AC Leite, RN Pereira, RM Rodrigues Food Hydrocolloids 163, 111138 , 2025 2025 Citations: 19
Tracking a common mantle source: From southwest Iberia to the Madeira-Canarias Islands R Pereira, B Araújo, JC Duarte, J Mata Geology 53 (5), 451-455 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
4D Digital Twin geological modelling for sustainable quarry management J Kullberg, R Pereira, A Machadinho, A Santos EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU25-17148 , 2025 2025
The effect of conventional and ohmic heating as pasteurization methods on the mechanical and rheological properties of edible whey‐based films E Aleksandrovas, A Vasiliauskaitė, JM Vieira, JT Martins, RN Pereira, ... Journal of Food Science 90 (4), e70180 , 2025 2025
Tracking a common mantle plume, from Iberia to Canarias-Madeira R Pereira, B Araújo, JC Duarte, J Mata EGU25 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Inclusion of Pineapple By-Products as Natural Antioxidant Sources in Diets for European Sea Bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax ) R Pereira, A Basto, M Pintado, LMP Valente, C Velasco Antioxidants 14 (3), 333 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
Life cycle assessment of protein extraction from microalgae biomass using ohmic heating V Sousa, R Novais, TM Mata, AA Martins, RN Pereira Algal Research 86, 103962 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Microalgae biomass–A source of sustainable dietary bioactive compounds towards improved health and well-being M Silva, P Geada, RN Pereira, JA Teixeira Food Chemistry Advances 6, 100926 , 2025 2025 Citations: 25
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Environmental impact of novel thermal and non-thermal technologies in food processing RN Pereira, AA Vicente Food Research International 43 (7), 1936-1943 , 2010 2010 Citations: 762
Effect of whey protein purity and glycerol content upon physical properties of edible films manufactured therefrom ÓL Ramos, I Reinas, SI Silva, JC Fernandes, MA Cerqueira, RN Pereira, ... Food hydrocolloids 30 (1), 110-122 , 2013 2013 Citations: 593
Emergent food proteins–Towards sustainability, health and innovation LH Fasolin, RN Pereira, AC Pinheiro, JT Martins, CCP Andrade, ... Food research international 125, 108586 , 2019 2019 Citations: 380
Algal proteins: Production strategies and nutritional and functional properties P Geada, C Moreira, M Silva, R Nunes, L Madureira, CMR Rocha, ... Bioresource technology 332, 125125 , 2021 2021 Citations: 314
Effects of electric fields on protein unfolding and aggregation: Influence on edible films formation RN Pereira, BWS Souza, MA Cerqueira, JA Teixeira, AA Vicente Biomacromolecules 11 (11), 2912-2918 , 2010 2010 Citations: 182
Effects of ohmic heating on extraction of food-grade phytochemicals from colored potato RN Pereira, RM Rodrigues, Z Genisheva, H Oliveira, V de Freitas, ... Lwt 74, 493-503 , 2016 2016 Citations: 176
Electric field-based technologies for valorization of bioresources CMR Rocha, Z Genisheva, P Ferreira-Santos, R Rodrigues, AA Vicente, ... Bioresource Technology 254, 325-339 , 2018 2018 Citations: 165
Whey and whey powders: Production and uses OL Ramos, RN Pereira, RM Rodrigues, JA Teixeira, AA Vicente, ... Encyclopedia of food and health, 498-505 , 2015 2015 Citations: 156
Extraction of pigments from microalgae and cyanobacteria—A review on current methodologies F Pagels, RN Pereira, AA Vicente, AC Guedes Applied Sciences 11 (11), 5187 , 2021 2021 Citations: 155
Extraction of tomato by-products’ bioactive compounds using ohmic technology M Coelho, R Pereira, AS Rodrigues, JA Teixeira, ME Pintado Food and Bioproducts Processing 117, 329-339 , 2019 2019 Citations: 145
Design of whey protein nanostructures for incorporation and release of nutraceutical compounds in food OL Ramos, RN Pereira, A Martins, R Rodrigues, C Fucinos, JA Teixeira, ... Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 57 (7), 1377-1393 , 2017 2017 Citations: 140
The use of emergent technologies to extract added value compounds from grape by-products MC Coelho, RN Pereira, AS Rodrigues, JA Teixeira, ME Pintado Trends in Food Science & Technology 106, 182-197 , 2020 2020 Citations: 135
Death kinetics of Escherichia coli in goat milk and Bacillus licheniformis in cloudberry jam treated by ohmic heating R Pereira, J Martins, C Mateus, JA Teixeira, AA Vicente Chemical Papers 61 (2), 121-126 , 2007 2007 Citations: 124
Influence of moderate electric fields on gelation of whey protein isolate RM Rodrigues, AJ Martins, OL Ramos, FX Malcata, JA Teixeira, ... Food Hydrocolloids 43, 329-339 , 2015 2015 Citations: 123
Electrotechnologies applied to microalgal biotechnology–Applications, techniques and future trends P Geada, R Rodrigues, L Loureiro, R Pereira, B Fernandes, JA Teixeira, ... Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 94, 656-668 , 2018 2018 Citations: 113
Moderate electric fields can inactivate Escherichia coli at room temperature LF Machado, RN Pereira, RC Martins, JA Teixeira, AA Vicente Journal of food engineering 96 (4), 520-527 , 2010 2010 Citations: 107
Effects of innovative processing methods on microalgae cell wall: prospects towards digestibility of protein-rich biomass L Machado, G Carvalho, RN Pereira Biomass 2 (2), 80-102 , 2022 2022 Citations: 106
Do hypoxia/normoxia culturing conditions change the neuroregulatory profile of Wharton Jelly mesenchymal stem cell secretome? FG Teixeira, KM Panchalingam, SI Anjo, B Manadas, R Pereira, N Sousa, ... Stem Cell Research & Therapy 6 (1), 133 , 2015 2015 Citations: 104
Production of whey protein-based aggregates under ohmic heating RN Pereira, RM Rodrigues, ÓL Ramos, F Xavier Malcata, JA Teixeira, ... Food and Bioprocess Technology 9 (4), 576-587 , 2016 2016 Citations: 102
Moderate Electric Fields as a Potential Tool for Sustainable Recovery of Phenolic Compounds from Pinus pinaster Bark P Ferreira-Santos, Z Genisheva, RN Pereira, JA Teixeira, CMR Rocha ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 7 (9), 8816-8826 , 2019 2019 Citations: 96