TQ

Periódico Tchê Química

Periódico científico multidisciplinar internacional

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Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

Find answers to the most common questions about Periódico Tchê Química

Document version: 2.0 | Updated on: 01/05/2026

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Frequency and Publication

1) What is the journal's publication frequency?
The journal is published on a quarterly basis (three issues per year), with editions released in MARCH, JULY, and NOVEMBER.
2) Does the journal provide a submission template? Is it mandatory?
Yes, the journal provides a mandatory template that can be downloaded here.
Optional Formatting Service:
If authors lack time or adequate resources to format their manuscript using the journal’s template, our team can perform the necessary adaptation. This is an optional service, and an additional fee will be charged on top of any Article Processing Charges.

To request this service, please indicate it in your cover letter.

Article Submission

3) How do I submit an article?
After ensuring compliance with all applicable guidelines, please send:
  • Manuscript file: Template in Microsoft Word format (.DOC)
  • Cover letter: Editable PDF file
Send both files to: journal.tq@gmail.com
Important: The only accepted submission method is via the journal’s official email.
4) How long does the review process take?
The review process may take up to 150 days from the date of receipt. If reviewer reports conflict or one report is significantly delayed, an additional expert opinion will be sought, and authors will be duly informed of any extensions.
12) I submitted an article and haven’t received feedback. What should I do?
If you don’t receive a response within one week (7 days), we recommend:
  1. Resending your submission to journal.tq@gmail.com
  2. Contacting the editors via phone, WhatsApp, or Telegram
Note: Occasionally, emails may not reach the inbox due to spam filters or technical issues. Please also check your spam folder.

Fees and Payments

5) Are there Article Processing Charges (APCs)?
Current Model: Platinum Open Access
There are no publication fees. Periódico Tchê Química currently operates under the Platinum OA model, supported by the Araucária Scientific Association. Therefore, there are no Article Processing Charges (APCs) for authors.
About Article Processing Charges (APCs):
Scientific publishing involves significant operational costs (peer review, editing, technical infrastructure, indexing). Subscription journals recover these costs from readers. Gold Open Access journals charge authors via APCs. Platinum Open Access journals (like ours) charge neither readers nor authors, being funded by institutions, associations, or donations.
Future Possibility:
Should the journal transition to Gold OA in the future (due to a significant increase in submissions), APCs would be charged after acceptance and before publication. Any change will be announced with at least 6 months’ notice.
For up-to-date information, please consult the Publication Fees page.
6) What would APCs cover (if charged)?
Currently, there are no fees (Platinum OA model). However, if the journal were to transition to Gold OA in the future, APCs would cover:
  • Editorial work: peer review, administrative support, content commissioning, and journal development
  • Technical infrastructure and innovation: development, maintenance, and operation of the journal’s online system and websites
  • Article production: professional formatting, article markup, and inclusion in indexing services
  • Journal marketing: initiatives to ensure readers and authors discover published works
  • Customer support: ongoing assistance to authors and readers
  • Permanent access: perpetual maintenance of open access to the full-text article
Current Situation:
All these costs are currently covered by the Araucária Scientific Association, enabling free publication for authors.
7) Who would be responsible for paying APCs (if charged)?
Currently, there are no publication fees (Platinum OA model). However, if the journal were to transition to Gold OA with APCs, authors would be responsible for payment or provision of funds.

In such a hypothetical scenario, authors could seek financial support from:
  • Their research institutions
  • Funding agencies (CNPq, CAPES, FAPESP, etc.)
  • Scientific publication funding programs
  • Research projects with publication budgets
Advantage of Current Model:
Under Platinum OA, authors need not worry about funding sources for publication, allowing full focus on research quality.
14) Can publication fees be waived if I lack funds?
No. Since Periódico Tchê Química offers various options for discounts and free publication, there is no policy for waiving Article Processing Charges.

Authors should apply for any of the available discount or free publication options to reduce or eliminate costs.
Available Options:
All discount and free publication options are detailed in the COVER LETTER or on the PUBLICATION FEES page.
15) I’m from a low-income country. Do I need to pay to publish?
No. Periódico Tchê Química currently operates under the Platinum Open Access model, meaning there are no publication fees for authors from any country, including low-income nations.
Democratic Access:
A key goal of the Platinum OA model is to eliminate financial barriers for researchers worldwide, especially those in developing and emerging economies. All authors are treated equally, regardless of geographic location or financial resources.
Hypothetical Future Scenario:
If the journal were to transition to Gold OA (with APCs) in the future, a clear policy of discounts and waivers would be established for authors from low-income countries, ensuring financial barriers do not prevent quality research from being published.
Please consult the Publication Fees page for up-to-date information.
16) Is there a refund policy for publication fees?
Not applicable. Periódico Tchê Química currently operates under the Platinum Open Access model, so there are no publication fees to refund.
Policy for Future Scenarios:
If the journal were to transition to Gold OA (with APCs) in the future, the policy would be that Article Processing Charges are non-refundable under any circumstances, as they cover operational costs already incurred during editorial and review processes (even for articles eventually rejected after peer review).
Protection Under Current Model:
One advantage of Platinum OA is that authors face no financial risk, as there is no initial payment or fees to consider.

Indexing and DOI

8) Where is the journal indexed?
The journal is indexed in the following databases and indexing services:
Web of Science (ESCI)
CrossRef
OpenAlex
Latindex
ROAD
The Keepers
SUDOC
EZB
Wikidata
GlobalHealth
CAB Abstracts
FATCAT
ZDB
OpenAIRE
Zenodo
OAI-PMH Access:
Periódico Tchê Química also provides metadata via the OAI-PMH (Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting), enabling automated harvesting of article information.
9) Does the journal assign DOIs?
Yes. Starting with the July 2021 issue, the journal assigns a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) to all published articles, ensuring permanent identification and traceability.
10) What is the journal's scope?
Periódico Tchê Química is a multidisciplinary journal publishing articles in the following areas:
  • Chemistry (Environmental, Physical, Medicinal, Analytical, Organic, Inorganic)
  • Fuels and Energy
  • Physics
  • Nuclear Chemistry and Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Biology
  • Science Education (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biology)
  • Agronomic Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Medicine and Medical Sciences

Open Access

11) Do I need to pay to access published articles?
No. You can download any article for free. This is an Open Access journal with no costs or barriers for readers.
Free and Immediate Access:
All published content is permanently available without subscription or payment.

Open Access Models

17) How often does the journal switch between Gold OA and Platinum OA?
Periódico Tchê Química has adapted its model based on operational challenges:
Model History:
  • Founding until ~2017: Operated as Platinum OA (free for authors)
  • 2017–2020: Transitioned to Gold OA (with APCs for authors)
  • After 2020: Returned to Platinum OA after a transitional period
18) Why does the journal alternate between Gold OA and Platinum OA?
The alternation is directly related to the volume of submissions and workload:
  • Lower submission volume: Easier to manage with limited resources, enabling Platinum OA (free for authors)
  • Higher submission volume: Requires more specialized staff and dedicated personnel, necessitating Gold OA (fees to cover operational costs)
Sustainability:
The model choice seeks to balance financial sustainability with the commitment to democratizing scientific knowledge.
19) Can the model change again between Gold OA and Platinum OA?
Yes, changes are possible and depend on the journal’s operational reality:
Change Principles:
  • Criterion: Changes are driven by operational realities and needs
  • Transparency: Changes will be announced with at least 6 months’ advance notice
  • Author protection: Manuscripts already in the publication process will follow the model in effect at the time of submission, with no disadvantage to authors
20) What is the current model of the journal?
Currently, Periódico Tchê Química operates under the Platinum Open Access model, supported by the Araucária Scientific Association.
This means:
✓ Free publication for eligible authors
✓ Free and open access for all readers
✓ No financial barriers to scientific knowledge dissemination
Please consult the Publication Fees page for updated information on the current model.

Editorial Board and Reviewers

13) How can I join the editorial board or contribute as a reviewer?
Periódico Tchê Química is continuously accepting applications from senior scientists to join our Editorial Board or contribute as reviewers.
Minimum Requirements:
  1. Hold a Ph.D. degree
  2. Have a proven publication record
  3. Have at least three (3) articles submitted and accepted after peer review in this journal
  4. Submit a copy of your CV demonstrating experience and publication history
Selection Process:
After submitting and having three (3) articles accepted in this journal, your application will be put to a vote by other Editorial Board members. Following the vote, your application may be accepted or rejected.
21) How does the peer review process work?
Periódico Tchê Química employs a double-blind peer review process, where both reviewers and authors remain anonymous throughout.
Process Steps:
  1. Initial Screening (Desk Review): The Editor assesses the manuscript for scope, originality, and critical issues like plagiarism and citation manipulation
  2. Reviewer Assignment: Approved manuscripts are sent to at least 2 expert reviewers
  3. Peer Evaluation: Reviewers assess methodology, originality, results presentation, ethics, and references
  4. Editorial Decision: The Editor makes the final decision based on reviewer reports
Anonymity: All identifying information is removed before review to ensure impartiality and reduce bias.

In case of conflicting reports, a third expert opinion will be sought. Reviewers advise the editor, but the final decision rests solely with the Editor.
23) Can I review articles without being on the editorial board?
Yes. The journal works with an external pool of ad hoc reviewers in addition to editorial board members.

If you have expertise in any of the journal’s scope areas and wish to contribute as a reviewer, please contact us at journal.tq@gmail.com with your CV and areas of specialization.
Benefits of being a reviewer:
• Contribute to scientific literature quality
• Stay updated on research in your field
• Develop critical evaluation skills
• Potential future invitation to join the editorial board

Ethics and Scientific Integrity

24) What is the journal’s policy on plagiarism and scientific misconduct?
Periódico Tchê Química maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and other forms of scientific misconduct.

Verification process:
  • All submissions are checked using similarity detection software
  • Screening for undeclared AI-generated content
  • Analysis of citation manipulation and references
Consequences:
Cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification result in immediate rejection and possible author banning from future submissions. The journal strictly follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
For full details on our ethical policies, please see our Ethics and Scientific Integrity Statement.
25) Does the journal accept redundant or duplicate publication?
No. We do not accept manuscripts that have been previously published or are under consideration elsewhere. This practice—known as redundant or duplicate publication—is considered scientific misconduct.
Exceptions:
Conference papers (extended abstracts or proceedings) may be considered if properly declared and significantly expanded into full-article format.
26) What is the policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) use?
Periódico Tchê Química recognizes that AI tools can be helpful in research and writing, but establishes clear guidelines for their use.
PERMITTED and ETHICAL Uses:
  • Grammar checking and text clarity enhancement
  • Text translation between languages
  • Document formatting assistance
  • Ideas structuring suggestions
PROHIBITED Uses:
  • Full generation of scientific text (results, discussion, conclusions)
  • Fabrication of data, graphs, or experimental results
  • Generation of fictitious bibliographic references
  • Undisclosed AI use for substantial content creation
IMPORTANT: Authors must declare AI tool usage in the methods or acknowledgments section, specifying which tool was used and for what purpose.

For more details, please consult our Ethics Policy.
27) How does the journal handle conflicts of interest?
All authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the presented work.

Types of conflicts of interest:
  • Financial: Corporate funding, patents, royalties, stock ownership
  • Non-financial: Personal relationships, institutional affiliations, personal beliefs
Management Process:
Reviewers and editors must also declare recusal if they have conflicts of interest with manuscripts under review. The journal maintains absolute confidentiality regarding conflict of interest declarations.

Copyright and Licensing

28) Who holds the copyright of published articles?
Authors retain copyright of their works published in Periódico Tchê Química. However, upon acceptance, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish and distribute the work.
29) Which Creative Commons license is used?
Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
This allows:
  • Share: Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially
  • Adapt: Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially
Only condition: You must give appropriate credit to the original authors, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
For more information, please see our Copyright and Licensing page.
30) Can I republish my article elsewhere after publication?
Yes. Since authors retain copyright, you may republish the work in institutional repositories, on your personal website, or in anthologies, provided that:
  • You give credit to the original publication in Periódico Tchê Química
  • You include the DOI link to the original article
  • The republication complies with the CC BY 4.0 license

Support and Contact

31) How can I contact the editorial team?
Main email: journal.tq@gmail.com
Website: www.tchequimica.com

For specific inquiries, you may also contact us via:
  • WhatsApp (details available in the website footer)
  • Telegram (details available in the website footer)
32) In which languages can I submit my article?
Periódico Tchê Química accepts submissions in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

Recommendation:
We strongly recommend submitting in English to maximize international visibility and impact, as English is the dominant language in global scientific communication.
Linguistic assistance: If needed, we encourage authors to seek professional scientific editing services to ensure linguistic quality.
33) My question isn’t listed here. What should I do?
If your question isn’t answered in this FAQ section, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly at journal.tq@gmail.com.

Our editorial team will be happy to assist you with any additional questions.
Contact methods:
• Email: journal.tq@gmail.com
• Website: www.tchequimica.com
• WhatsApp/Telegram: Details available in the website footer
Important: When contacting us, please include detailed information about your query so we can provide the most accurate response possible.

Still have questions?

Our editorial team is always available to assist you

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Document version: 2.0 | Updated on: 01/05/2026