Access profile

No bridging courses required:
Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, master's degree in Research on Chemical Process Engineering, master's degree in Industrial Engineering, specialisation in Chemistry.

With bridging courses:
Master's degree in Chemistry, master's degree in Biotechnology, master's degree in Food Engineering, other master's degrees in related fields.

Output profile

Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research (Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies):

a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field.
b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas.
e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong.
f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.

The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:

a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field.
d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information.
f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.

Finally, with respect to competencies, doctoral students must:

a) have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields;
b) have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of expertise that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community;
c) have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, in which they are able to apply their contributions, expertise and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they work;
d) have developed sufficient autonomy to set up, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer;
e) have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity;
f) have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are able to make cultural, social or technological advances and promote innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society;
g) have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds.

Students will gain experience in various fields of RDI related to chemical process engineering in a wide range of contexts.

This may include:

Experience in the field of food products: durability, traceability, optimisation, hygiene and food engineering. Design and construction of new equipment and facilities for food companies, etc.

• Ability to integrate and intensify processes, manage and recover waste and control pollution.

• Training in various fields related to risk and safety. Graduates will generally have received training in risk analysis in the process industry, environmental risk assessment, and fire events in forests and inside buildings.

• In the field of nanotechnology, they will have developed a range of skills, including the ability to design, develop, characterise and test new catalysts based on nano and microstructures (e.g. for the generation and purification of hydrogen) or the ability to develop photocatalysts and photocatalytic reactors to generate hydrogen from water and sunlight.

• They will be able to apply various separation technologies (e.g. to remove pollutants from water) or develop new sensors as analytical methods for monitoring physico-chemical parameters of interest in natural and industrial environments. They will be able to study and characterise waste from various sources to ensure appropriate treatment.

In any of the areas in which students complete theses, they are expected to develop the ability to conceive, design, implement and adapt a substantial process of research. The programme also aims to equip students to contribute to extending the frontiers of knowledge through original research. They will also be capable of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas, and will develop the skills needed to present their ideas and the knowledge they have acquired in academic and professional contexts.

Number of places

10

Duration of studies and dedication regime

Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is three years, counted from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is five years, counting from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. For calculating these periods, the date of admission is considered to be the date of the first enrolment for tutorials, and the date of submission the moment in which the Doctoral School officially deposits the doctoral thesis.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years. When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the minimum period of study requirement.

The calculation of periods of study will not include periods of absence due to illness, pregnancy or any other reason provided for in the regulations in force. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which, where appropriate, must inform the Doctoral School. Doctoral candidates may also temporarily withdraw from the programme for up to one year, and this period may be extended for an additional year. Doctoral candidates who wish to interrupt their studies must submit a justified request to the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which will decide whether or not to approve the request. Each programme will establish conditions for readmission to doctoral studies.

Extension
If full-time doctoral candidates have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, the academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year. In exceptional circumstances, a further one-year extension may be granted, subject to the conditions established by the corresponding doctoral programme. In the case of part-time doctoral candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

Organization

• Planas Cuchi, Eulalia

• Garcia Gomez, Sonia
• Gibert Agullo, Oriol
• Graells Sobre, Moises
• Planas Cuchi, Eulalia
• Sastre Requena, Ana Maria

• Department of Chemical Engineering (PROMOTORA)

Diagonal-Besòs Campus Management and Support Unit
Building A
Av. Eduard Maristany, 16
08019 Barcelona
(+34) 934 011 792
E-mail: doctorat.eebe@upc.edu

Agreements with other institutions

Agreements:

Collaborations:

The Department of Chemical Engineering has an extensive network of contacts with renowned universities and research centres abroad. Collaborations involve co-supervision, exchanges of academic staff and doctoral students, reciprocal participation on thesis examination committees, and execution of joint research projects. Institutions we collaborate with include:

Amirkabir University of Technology (Iran)
University of Bremen (Germany)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA)
Carnegie Mellon University (USA)
Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium)
Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden)
Cornell University (USA)
Cranfield University (UK)
Delft University of Technology (Netherlands)
École des Mines d’Alès (IMT Mines Alès, France)
ETH Zurich (Switzerland)
Imperial College (UK)
Institute for Research on Catalysis and the Environment of Lyon (France)
Institute of Chemical Technology – TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany)
JRC Karlsruhe (Germany)
Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy)
Poznań University of Technology (Poland)
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (Mexico)
National University of San Luis (Argentina)
University of Tarapacá (Chile)
National University of Litoral (Argentina)
NOVA University of Lisbon (UNL, Portugal)
University of Palermo (Italy)
University of Udine (Italy)
University of Calabria (Italy)
University of Bologna (Italy)
Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
University of Barcelona (Spain)
Mohamed Boudiaf University of Science and Technology of Oran (USTOMB, Algeria)
Oran 1 University (Algeria)
University of Edinburgh (UK)
University of Helsinki (Finland)
University of Plymouth (UK)
University of Reading (UK)
Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands)

Access profile

No bridging courses required:
Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, master's degree in Research on Chemical Process Engineering, master's degree in Industrial Engineering, specialisation in Chemistry.

With bridging courses:
Master's degree in Chemistry, master's degree in Biotechnology, master's degree in Food Engineering, other master's degrees in related fields.

Access requirements

Applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a Spanish master’s degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees (Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February)

In addition, the following may apply:

• Holders of an official degree awarded by a university in Spain or any other country in the European Higher Education Area, pursuant to the provisions of Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, which establishes official university course regulations, who have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on official university degrees, of which at least 60 must be at the master's degree level.
• Holders of an official Spanish bachelor’s degree comprising at least 300 credits, as provided for by EU regulations. Holder of degrees of this kind must complete bridging courses unless the curriculum of the bachelor’s degree in question included research training credits equivalent in value to those which would be earned on a master's degree.
• Holders of an official university qualification who, having passed the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have completed at least two years of a training course leading to an official degree in a health-sciences specialisation.
• Holders of a degree issued under a foreign education system. In these cases, homologation is not required, but the UPC must verify that the degree certifies a level of training equivalent to an official Spanish master's degree and qualifies the holder for admission to doctoral studies in the country where it was issued. Admission on this basis does not imply homologation of the foreign degree or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.
• Holders of a Spanish doctoral qualification issued under previous university regulations.

Note 1: Doctoral studies entrance regulations for holders of an undergraduate degree awarded before the introduction of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014)

Note 2: Governing Council Decision 64/2014, which approves the procedure and criteria for assessing the fulfilment of academic admission requirements for doctoral studies by holders of non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014)

Admission criteria and merits assessment

Weighting
1. Applicant’s curriculum vitae: Type of training and marks awarded, as well as research and professional experience (70%).
2. Personal contact through online or face-to-face interviews (15%).
3. English language skills (15%)


Admissions body
The programme has an academic committee that assesses student applications. Each month, the committee reviews applications submitted through the pre-enrolment application.

The doctoral programme has a specific form for doctoral students to indicate their scientific and technical interests. Based on this information, and taking into account the needs and capacity of research groups, the academic committee channels the applications accepted so that tutors and thesis supervisors can be assigned.

If the academic committee deems that additional training is required for an applicant to be admitted, it determines what bridging courses the student will be required to take to ensure that they have the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities (up to a maximum of 60 ECTS credits).

Training complements

Compulsory master’s degree subjects
• Biotech Processes and Polymer Industry (6 ECTS credits)
• Chemical and Catalytic Reaction Engineering (6)• Chainability and Circular Economy (6)
• Polymer Physics (6)
• Waste Resource Technologies (6)
• Nanotechnology (6)
• Risk and Safety in the Chemical Industry (6)

Subjects of the Green Chemical Process Engineering (GCPE) specialisation
• Membrane Processes and Technologies (6)
• Industrial Water Technologies (6)
• Process Integration (6)
• Advanced Catalytic Reactors (6)
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (6)
• Circular Process Engineering (6)

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

The ordinary enrolment period starts in September and ends on 15 October of each academic year, though the enrolment date will depend on the admission decision.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

The enrolment period will be from 15 September to 15 October of each academic year.

More information at the general registration section

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan

Doctoral candidates must submit a research plan, which will be included in their doctoral student activity report, before the end of the first year. The plan may be improved over the course of the doctoral degree. It must be endorsed by the tutor and the supervisor, and it must include the method that is to be followed and the aims of the research.

At least one of these annual assessments will include a public presentation and defence of the research plan and work done before a committee composed of three doctoral degree holders, which will be conducted in the manner determined by each academic committee. The examination committee awards a Pass or Fail mark. A Pass mark is a prerequisite for continuing on the doctoral programme. Doctoral candidates awarded a Fail mark must submit a new research plan for assessment by the academic committee of the doctoral programme within six months.

The committee assesses the research plan every year, in addition to all of the other activities in the doctoral student activity report. Doctoral candidates who are awarded two consecutive Fail marks for the research plan will be obliged to definitely withdraw from the programme.

If they change the subject of their thesis, they must submit a new research plan.

Formation activities

Activity: Preparation and initial defence of research plan.
Hours: 4.
Type: compulsory.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.

The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.

PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.

The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.

A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.

Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.

If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.

The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.

For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.

More information at the PhD theses section

Permanence

The academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year for full-time doctoral candidates who have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, in the terms outlined in the Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. In the case of part-time candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

International Mention

The doctoral degree certificate may include International Doctorate mention. In this case, the doctoral candidate must meet the following requirements:

a) During the period of study leading to the award of the doctoral degree, the doctoral candidate must have spent at least three months at a respected higher education institution or research centre outside Spain to complete courses or do research work. The stays and activities carried out must be endorsed by the thesis supervisor and authorised by the academic committee of the programme. The candidate must provide a certifying document issued by the person responsible for the research group of the body or bodies where the stay or activity was completed. This information will be added to the doctoral student’s activity report.
b) Part of the thesis (at least the summary and conclusions) must be written and presented in one of the languages commonly used for science communication in the relevant field of knowledge, which must not be an official language of Spain. This rule does not apply to stays and reports in Spanish or to experts from Spanish-speaking countries.
c) At least two PhD-holding experts belonging to a higher education institution or research centre outside Spain must have issued officially certified reports on the thesis.
d) The thesis examination committee must have included at least one PhD-holding expert from a higher education or research institution outside Spain who was not responsible for the candidate’s stay abroad (point a) above).
e) The thesis defence must have taken place on UPC premises or, in the case of joint programmes, at the location specified in the collaboration agreement.

List of authorized thesis for defense

• LAPO CALDERÓN, BYRON: Lignocellulosic wastes and chitosan composites applied to recover rare earth elements by liquid-solid separation
  
  Author: LAPO CALDERÓN, BYRON
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 04/05/2023
  Reading date: 12/07/2023
  Reading time: 11:30
  Reading place: Sala de presentacions 28.8, ETSEIB, planta 1, Campus Sud
  Thesis director: SASTRE REQUENA, ANA MARIA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: CORTINA PALLAS, JOSE LUIS
       SECRETARI: ALGUACIL PRIEGO, FRANCISCO JOSÉ
       VOCAL: REGEL-ROSOCKA, MAGDALENA
  Thesis abstract: Rare earths elements (REE) are crucial elements to the future of technology, particularly to the power generation and road transport. One of the most sustainable processes to recover rare earths is biosorption. In this work, two bio sorbent-based materials including lignocellulosic and chitosan were developed and evaluated as adsorbent materials for rare earths recovery. The lignocellulosic-based materials included three banana wastes (rachis, pseudosteam and peel) and a residue from saccharification process using banana rachis as starting material. While, the chitosan-based materials included a chitosan-ferric hydroxide composite beads, a chitosan-magnetic beads and a pickering emulsion formed by chitosan and Cyanex 923 (Cy923). The banana wastes were tested in its neat form. The results show that banana rachis was the best material compared with banana pseudosteam and peel, with about 100 mg/g of adsorption capacity for five critical rare earths (Nd, Eu, Y, Dy and Tb). The adsorption mechanism showed that the oxygen functionalities, particularly carboxylic groups causing the REE attachment to the material surface by electrostatic attraction. In addition, banana rachis performed very fast kinetics (8 min). A second material based on the residue of banana rachis after being saccharified by enzymatic hydrolysis with polyethylene glycol (BR-PEG) was evaluated in the recovering of Nd. BR-PEG material performs adsorption reaction in approximately 20 min and presented maximum adsorption capacity of 44.11 mg/g. The material was reused for five times during the adsorption-desorption cycles.Regarding to chitosan-based materials, chitosan-iron (ChiFer(III)) beads were obtained and applied to the Nd recovery from aqueous phase. The adsorption capacity of freeze-dried material was 13.8 mg/g at pH 4, which enhanced in around four times the adsorption capacity of neat chitosan of 3.54 mg/g. In addition, dynamic columns testing was successfully evaluated with synthetic Nd-B solutions confirmed the selectivity to Nd ions. The elution was carried out with excellent results using water at pH 3.5. A second material based on chitosan magnetic composite beads consisted in nanoparticles of manganese-ferrite (MnFe2O3) and chitosan were applied to the recovery of Nd from aqueous solutions. The adsorption experiments showed that composite beads perform the maximum adsorption at pH 4 with maximum adsorption capacity of 44.29 mg/g. This material can be reused up to 4 adsorption-desorption cycles. Finally, chitosan was used as pickering particles to encapsulate Cy923 using ultrasound synthesis, resulting in microcapsules of around 1 µm, applied to recover selectively rare earths. To prepare the pickering emulsion was applied sequentially a 23 full factorial design, followed by a 33 Box-Behnken design varying the Cy923 content, chitosan concentration, and pH of CS. The maximum Y recovery reached 72.36%, using the following optimized parameters:12.78 g Cy923, 15 mg/mL CS, and 4.89 as encapsulation pH. The optimized material was characterized by FTIR, SEM, optical microscopy, rheological, compositional and stability. The material showed the best performance at pH 2. The material showed equilibrium kinetics of <5min and adsorption capacity of 90 mg Y/g. The material showed excellent selectivity to rare earths in three systems Y/Ca, Gd/Ca and La/Ni systems. Compared with liquid-liquid extraction, the pickering emulsion showed advantages such as the less use of Cyanex 923 and no needed of organic diluents, being a green alternative compared with standard liquid-liquid extraction.The present thesis shows various sustainable alternatives to recover rare earths by liquid-solid separation. It is expected that this work contributes with green engineering alternatives to recover rare earths, and parallelly serves to valorise some materials considered residues. Five materials were evaluated, which are presented as separated publications.
  
• TORRES RIVERO ANDRADE, KARINA VICTORIA ALEJANDRA: Nano-enabled screen-printed electrodes for the determination of trace elements in aqueous environmental samples
  
  Author: TORRES RIVERO ANDRADE, KARINA VICTORIA ALEJANDRA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 30/03/2023
  Reading date: 12/07/2023
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: EEBE, Sala Polivalent de l'Edifici A, planta baixa, Campus Diagonal-Besòs
  Thesis director: FLORIDO PEREZ, ANTONIO | MARTI GREGORIO, VICENÇ
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: DIAZ CRUZ, JOSE MANUEL
       SECRETARI: DE PABLO RIBAS, JOAN
       VOCAL: BAEZA LABAT, MARIA DEL MAR
  Thesis abstract: Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a wastewater originated from complex oxidation processes that has become one of the most challenges facing the global mining industry due to its acidity, high content of SO42- and other metals as Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, Cd, Pb and metalloids as As. Because AMD can represent an important threat to surface water and groundwater quality, early detection systems for metals and metalloids and low-cost and effective water treatment techniques are required to prevent, manage and control the environmental damage associated with this issue.In the present Thesis, chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) using the seed-mediated method was used to modify screen-printed carbon nanofibers electrodes (SPCNFE) using different deposition methods such as in situ, drop-casting, and spin-coating. Afterward, the AgNPs-based electrode was evaluated for the determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The LODs were 2.8 and 2.1 ug L-1 for Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively. In addition, two different sizes of Ag-NPs were used to modify SPCNFEs and performed the direct determination of As(V) in aqueous samples. EIS was used to study the effect of the Ag-NPs incorporation onto the screen-printed working electrode surface, confirming higher electrocatalytic response for the modified electrode compared to the bare sensor. The proposed sensor was tested in As(V) spiked tap water sample, obtaining results in good agreement with ICP-MS measurements. Moreover, to evaluate the effect of the same type of NPs in the electrode response, a study with Ag nanoseeds-SPCNFEs for determining different analytes, Pb(II), Cd(II), and As(V) using DPASV, was performed. It was concluded, compared with the above results, that the studied analytes were detected at ug L-1 concentration levels, exhibiting wider linear ranges in the Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions, but lower sensitivities values as compared to As(V). In the last approach linked to SPCNFEs, the green synthesis of Ag and Au nanoparticles was investigated. Metal nanoparticles were obtained using grape stalk waste extract acting as a reducing agent. Furthermore, using the spin-coating deposition methodology, the green synthesized Ag and Au nanoparticles were used to functionalize screen-printed carbon nanofibers electrodes. The modified electrode was used to determine Cd(II), Pb(II), and U(VI); this last analyte for its importance in the nuclear safety industry. The best LOD was obtained with the green-silver-nanoparticle-based SPCNFE (G-AgNPs-SPCNFE), which was 0.12 ug L-1. The suitability of the G-AgNPs-SPCNFE was evaluated for determining U(VI) in spiked tap water samples obtaining comparable results with the ICP-MS analytical technique with good reproducibility.The Thesis has also explored the recovery of AMD and/or AMD wastes in a circularity context. Therefore, new approaches tested, that consisted of the use of AMD as a source to synthesize nanoparticles for their use in nano-enabled screen-printed electrodes and AMD waste treatment as an adsorbent of arsenic. Nowadays, active treatments for AMD involve utilizing alkaline chemicals to neutralize and precipitate metals and sulfate as the main processes. Consequently, two precipitates were obtained from AMD treatment with slaked lime and calcite. The obtained solids were characterized, confirming the presence of iron hydroxide, gypsum, and jurbanite. Then, they were used as a potential arsenic adsorbent, obtaining an arsenic removal efficiency similar to commercial adsorbents such as sonicated Bayoxide® and nanohematite.In conclusion, two Circular Economy approaches were explored. First, a residue produced from the wine industry in large quantities, such as grape stalk waste, was used later in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles, and second the AMD precipitate used as the adsorbent of mainly arsenic and other metals.
  

Last update: 10/06/2023 04:45:36.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 10/06/2023 04:30:26.

List of defended theses by year

• CHEN, YUFEN: Mechanochemical preparation of TiO2-based photocatalysts for hydrogen production
  
  Author: CHEN, YUFEN
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Reading date: 19/05/2023
  Thesis director: LLORCA PIQUE, JORDI | SOLER TURU, LLUIS
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: CONCEPCION HEYDORN, PATRICIA
       SECRETARI: MACANAS DE BENITO, JORGE
       VOCAL: DE LA PEÑA O\'SHEA, VICTOR A.
  Thesis abstract: Metal clusters and single atoms have been considered as effective cocatalysts for the enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen production dueto their singular geometric structures, electronic properties and unique reactivity. Nevertheless, the design of a facile and green synthesis procedure for ultrasmall metal species is an urgent yet challenging task. In this thesis, we have synthesized TiO2-based photocatalysts decorated with monometallic clusters (Au, Pd and PI) and bimetallic clusters (PdAu) through one-step mechanochemical ball milling process for H2 evolution under UVand visible light. The milling parameters, such as milling time, frequency and ball to powder ratio were carefully adjusted to optimize the milling environment to achieve the highest H2 production. In this context, the main lines ofthe research are described as follows: firstly, monometallic clusters (Au, Pd) loaded on TiO2 were synthesized and characterized, and their photocatalytic performance was investigated; then PdAu bimetallic cocatalysts on TiO2 were prepared to integrate their unique optical and photocatalytic properties; finally, we studied the photostability of Au, Pd and PI clusters supported over nanoshaped anatase nanoparticles expos ing preferentially {001} and {101} facets during the photogeneration of H2.This work was carried out in four chapters: in Chapter 3, gold clusters were readily synthesized and dispersed onto TiO2 surface by one-step mechanochemical milling from TiO2 P90 and gold acetate precursors. The obtained Au clusters strongly interact with the TiO2 support, and the resulting photocatalysts present outstanding photocatalytic behaviour on the evolution of H2 under UVand visible light, which double those obtained on Au/TiO2 prepared by conventional methods and containing Au nanoparticles. The particular architecture formed by ball milling leads to effective charge separation, high photocurrent response and low charge transfer resistance.In Chapter 4, TiO2-based photocatalysts with highly dispersed Pd clusters on the surface were synthesized by a simple one­ step ball milling process. The clusters are mainly in metallic state and can forma special interface between the metal and support. During the photocatalytic H2 production process, the small Pd clusters evolve into Pd nanoparticles under UVlight and maintain a stable and outstanding photocatalytic activity for 100 hours of continuous operation. Furthermore, the unique interaction between Pd clusters and the TiO2 support was only discovered in the ball-m illed sample, not in conventionally impregnated samples, and itwas lostaftera calcination treatment.In Chapter 5, we employed the one-pot ball milling strategy to prepare bimetallic cocatalysts (PdAu/TiO2-BM) for H2 production under simulated solar illum ination and UV light conditions. The Pd/Au ratio was carefully tuned to achieve the optimal integration ofcatalytic and plasmonic properties. More interestingly, samples prepared through one-step milling showed a superior behavior with respect to !hose obtained by sequential milling. Aseries of techniques were applied to understand the unique properties of one-poi ball milled photocatalysts, including XRD, Raman and UV-vis spectroscopy.In Chapter 6, we have studied the stability of Au, Pd and Pt clusters prepared by ball milling and supported over nanoshaped anatase nanoparticles exposing preferentially {001} and {101} facets during the photogeneration of H2. 11 has been found that PI/TiO2 exhibits superior stability !han Pd/TiO2 and Au/TiO2, and that {001} facet-based photocatalysts are always more stable than their {101} analogous regardless of the metal species considered. We have demonstrated that the loss of stability associated with cluster sintering, which is facilitated by the transfer of photoexcited carriers from the metal species to the neighbouring Ti and O atoms, most significantly and detrimentally affects the H2-evolution photoactivity.
  

• CIFUENTES LÓPEZ, ALEJANDRO: Simulación y desarrollo de reactores catalíticos de membrana para la tecnología del hidrógeno
  
  Author: CIFUENTES LÓPEZ, ALEJANDRO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Reading date: 19/01/2023
  Thesis director: LLORCA PIQUE, JORDI | TORRES CAMARA, RICARDO
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: RUIZ REINA, EMILIO
       SECRETARI: HUSAR, ATTILA PETER
       VOCAL: GUILERA SALA, JORDI
  Thesis abstract: This thesis focuses on the study of the catalytic production of hydrogen from methanol and water.Catalytic production is carried out in a catalytic membrane reactor which manages to produce andpurify hydrogen. The end use of the hydrogen produced is to power fuel cells for portable and mobile applications. In this thesis, a catalyst composed of PdZn/ZnAl2O4/Al2O3 in the form of pellets with alumina support was developed. The catalyst was characterized and tested in a plug flow reactor. Apilot plant with a catalytic membrane reactor was then built. The catalyst was tested in the pilot plantat real operating conditions. Also, finite element models of the plug flow reactor and the catalyticmembrane reactor were developed. These models validated the experimental results. Finally, a PIcontroller was built that acted on the methanol-water liquid pump to produce high purity hydrogenin a controlled and regulated manner in the catalytic membrane reactor.
  

Last update: 10/06/2023 05:01:04.

Research groups

• CEPIMA-Centre d'Enginyeria de Processos i Medi Ambient
• CERTEC-Centre for Technological Risk Studies
• CRESCA-Food safety and Control Research Centre
• NEMEN-Nanoengineering of Materials Applied to Energy
• R2EM-Resource Recovery and Environmental Management

Teachers

• Almajano Pablos, Maria Pilar
• Casal Fabrega, Joaquim
• Casas Pons, Ignasi
• Cortina Pallas, Jose Luis
• Espuña Camarasa, Antonio
• Farran Marsa, Adriana
• Fortuny Sanroma, Agustí
• Gibert Agullo, Oriol
• Graells Sobre, Moises
• Llorca Pique, Jordi
• Marti Gregorio, Vicenç
• Pablo Ribas, Joan de
• Pastor Ferrer, Elsa
• Perez Moya, Montserrat
• Planas Cuchi, Eulalia
• Ruiz Planas, Montserrat
• Sastre Requena, Ana Maria
• Valderrama Angel, Cesar Alberto
• Yaroshchuk, Andriy

• Soler Turu, Lluis