Pricing Structure

Base Article Processing Charge (APC): USD 1,000.00

BRL equivalent: updated daily according to the Brazilian Central Bank exchange rate

The fee may be partially reduced or fully waived depending on the author's financial situation and available support. Discounts are evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief during submission of the manuscript. Payment is only collected AFTER the manuscript has been approved.

* BRL values are approximate. Conversion uses the average Brazilian Central Bank exchange rate on the day of payment (after approval).
** In the case of multiple authors, it is sufficient for one of them to hold an active professional registration (CFQ) for the manuscript to receive the 100% discount.

Why Do Chemists with an Active CFQ Get a Full Waiver?

The 100% APC waiver for professionals with an active registration at the Federal Council of Chemistry (CFQ) is not a common financial discount: it is a deliberate policy to incentivize the professional practice of Chemistry in Brazil.

Brazil, as a republican nation, is relatively young — the Proclamation of the Republic took place on November 15, 1889, led by Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, ending the Second Reign (Emperor D. Pedro II) and establishing the republican form of government. The regulation of the chemist profession is even more recent: the Federal Council of Chemistry (CFQ) and the Regional Councils of Chemistry (CRQ) were created by Law No. 2,800, of June 18, 1956 — nearly seven decades after the founding of the Republic — a field still in the process of consolidation, still building its social and institutional recognition. By fully waiving the fee for professionals with an active CFQ registration, Periódico Tchê Química aims to:

• Encourage formal registration and regularization of chemists with the Federal Council;
• Strengthen the professional category at a still-early stage of its regulatory consolidation in the country;
• Stimulate scientific production and dissemination by the field's own professionals;
• Recognize and value these professionals' personal investment in their education and regularization.

Timeline: Submission → Review → Approval → Payment

1. Manuscript submission: The author declares their financial situation and eligibility (CFQ, discount, etc.).
2. Proof if required: If claiming the CFQ waiver, the author provides a photo of their active registration with the Federal Council of Chemistry + proof of the registration's current annual payment. Other situations: documentation as requested by the Editor-in-Chief.
3. Editor-in-Chief review: Evaluates eligibility and approves the discount/waiver, if applicable.
4. Peer review: The manuscript is sent for review. No fee is charged while the manuscript is under review.
5. Manuscript approval: If approved, the editor communicates the final APC amount (discount already applied).
6. Payment: Payment methods (PIX, bank transfer, boleto, etc.) are sent to the author. Payment is only skipped if the author is eligible for a full waiver (CFQ or 100%).
7. Publication: The article is published after payment confirmation (or shortly after approval, if waived).

Payment Options in Brazilian Reais

Brazilian authors may pay the full amount in Brazilian Reais (BRL), converted at the Central Bank exchange rate in effect on the day of payment. Available methods will be sent by email after manuscript approval:

• Ability to Pay: The APC is not mandatory for those without financial means. Discounts and waivers are evaluated case-by-case by the Editor-in-Chief, with full transparency. The following items are considered: quality of the material, quality of formatting, quality of bibliographic references, adherence to the journal's scope, and timeliness of the content. See details in the section below.
• Direct Benefit for Brazilian Researchers: Researchers with an active registration at the Federal Council of Chemistry (CFQ) publish free of charge — this is our way of valuing and supporting Brazilian Chemistry.
• Institutional Support: Universities, research agencies, and associations can negotiate agreements to cover APCs fully or partially. These partnerships are publicly acknowledged, with no interference in editorial decisions.
• Editorial Independence: Manuscript acceptance is entirely independent of the author's ability to pay. Scientific quality is the sole criterion for peer review.
• Transparency: All revenue flows (APCs paid, approved discounts, institutional support) are reported annually. Funds cover platform costs, editorial management, peer review, and digital preservation.

Discount Evaluation Criteria (25%, 50%, 75%, 95%)

To receive a discount on the APC, the submitted manuscript must simultaneously meet all of the criteria below. The evaluation is made by the Editor-in-Chief at the time of submission:

1. Quality of the material: Scientific rigor and methodological consistency of the manuscript.
2. Quality of formatting: Adherence to the journal's formatting standards.
3. Quality of bibliographic references: References that are current, relevant, and correctly cited.
4. Adherence to the journal's scope: The manuscript's topic is aligned with the scope of Periódico Tchê Química.
5. Timeliness of the content: The topic and data presented reflect the state of the art in the field.

Our Position on Public Funding

Periódico Tchê Química is an independent publication and operates without receiving or requesting government funding to carry out its activities or goals, even under the Gold OA model. This decision is grounded in clear ethical principles:

• Direct Responsibility: We believe the real costs of scientific publishing should be borne by the professionals who directly benefit (authors, institutions) or by research organizations. Discounts and waivers are offered out of compassion, not as a general rule.
• Fiscal Equity: Funding publications with government revenue derived from taxes would impose a compulsory charge on all of society to subsidize research that benefits only a specific segment. We do not consider it morally appropriate for Brazilian taxpayers to pay in advance for all publications.
• Editorial and Financial Autonomy: Absolute independence — from both government and commercial lobbies — guarantees full freedom in editorial decisions and shields the science we publish from political or economic pressures.

When Fees May Be Adjusted

The APC amount (USD 1,000.00) and the discount structure are periodically reviewed to reflect the journal's financial sustainability and editorial workload volume. Any adjustment follows objective and transparent criteria:

Determining Factor: Manuscript Volume and Operating Costs

• Low Volume (a few dozen manuscripts/year): The current pricing and discount structure is sufficient to maintain operations, with a focus on expanding waivers and discounts.
• High Volume (hundreds or thousands of manuscripts/year): Adjustments to the APC amount may become necessary to maintain the journal's financial viability, ensuring resources for:
  • Adequate technological infrastructure
  • Professional manuscript management system
  • Expanded editorial support
  • Long-term digital preservation
  • Indexing and visibility services

Transparency Commitment

Any change to the APC amount or discount structure will be clearly and transparently declared on this page with a minimum advance notice of 6 months. The change will be communicated to the entire scientific community through multiple channels, including:

• Prominent notice on the journal's website
• Email notification to registered authors
• Explanatory editorial in the issue prior to implementation
• Complete breakdown of amounts and justifications

Donation Procedure

1. Express your intention: Clearly state in your cover letter that you wish to make a donation to the journal.
2. Await instructions: Our team will provide the means to complete your donation, typically via PayPal or bank transfer.
3. Ethical Guidelines:
   • Anonymous donations are not accepted
   • Authors with manuscripts under review cannot donate
   • After publication, please wait 6 months before contributing
   • All donations are publicly acknowledged (with donor permission)

Important: Periódico Tchê Química offers optional support services for researchers, complementary to the Flexible Gold Open Access model. These services are voluntary contributions, entirely separate from the mandatory APC of the publication process. Researchers may choose to use these services or handle such tasks independently through other channels.

Available Services

Key Principles for Optional Services

• No service affects editorial decisions or publication timelines
• These services are independent of the APC (Gold OA) and of the author's eligibility for discounts or waivers
• No refund policy, as the engagement is always voluntary
• Pricing reflects service complexity and market competitiveness
• Transparency is prioritized: services are optional, with no hidden costs
• Editorial integrity remains paramount; financial considerations never influence peer review

Important Note: Choosing the appropriate statement is the authors' responsibility. Including one of these statements in the manuscript is mandatory and will be verified during the editorial review process.

Periódico Tchê Química reaffirms its commitment to the democratization of science through barrier-free access, rigorous ethical practices, and high-quality academic exchange. Together, we promote global scientific innovation and collaboration, always maintaining our editorial independence and commitment to scientific excellence.