R&D Units

Biotechnological Processes

Energy storage and electrochemical solutions for the water-energy nexus

What we do?

The Electrochemical Processes Unit develops advanced electrochemical technologies for energy storage and environmental applications related to the water-energy nexus.

Its research focuses on the design of new devices, materials and methodologies to improve the performance, durability and sustainability of key electrochemical systems for the energy transition.

Team members

Dra. Elia Tomás
Senior Researcher & Head of Unit
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Dra. Cristina González
Associate Senior Researcher
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Dra. Elvira Romero
Senior Assistant Researcher
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Research Areas

  • Development of supercapacitors with higher energy density while maintaining power density, cycle life, and charge and discharge efficiency.
  • Design and development of flow batteries based on novel chemistries free from critical raw materials, aimed at improving efficiency, increasing energy density and reducing the cost per kWh of stored energy.
  • Development of materials and components to improve the performance, cycle life and recyclability of lithium-ion and other metal-ion batteries.
  • Design and scale-up of capacitive and Faradaic deionisation processes to capture value-added or potentially hazardous ionic species dissolved in natural waters or high-salinity wastewater.
  • Development of new testing methodologies and accelerated testing protocols for batteries and supercapacitors to assess ageing under different storage and operating conditions.

Facilities

The Electrochemical Processes Unit’s research infrastructure includes two laboratories and one pilot plant, equipped with a wide range of instruments and equipment.

These facilities provide capabilities ranging from fundamental research and the modelling of chemical compounds and materials to rapid prototyping and pilot-scale testing.

BIOMIO

CEL_BIONIC

MAD VUELA SOSTENIBLE

PROPEL

WAVE

YAF

  1. Long hydraulic retention time mediates stable volatile fatty acids production against slight pH oscillations. Gonçalves, M.J.; González-Fernández, C.; Greses, S. Waste Management, 2024, 176, pp. 140–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2024.01.012
  2. Coupling dark fermentation and microbial electrolysis cells for higher hydrogen yield: Technological competitiveness and challenges. Srivastava, P.; García-Quismondo, E.; Palma, J.; González-Fernández, C. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2024, 52, pp. 223–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.04.293
  3. Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids. Lago, A.; Greses, S.; Aboudi, K.; Moreno, I.; González-Fernández, C. Scientific Reports, 2023, 13(1), 20590. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48097-2
  4. Production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as chemicals or substrates for microbes to obtain biochemicals. Tomás-Pejó, E.; González-Fernández, C.; Greses, S.; Müller, B.; Passoth, V.; Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, 2023, 16(1), 96. 10.1186/s13068-023-02349-5
  5. Microbial co-cultures for biochemicals production from lignocellulosic biomass: A review. Llamas, M.; Greses, S.; Magdalena, J.A.; González-Fernández, C.; Tomás-Pejó, E. Bioresource Technology, 2023, 386, 129499 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129499
  6. Genome-centric metagenomics revealed the effect of pH on the microbiome involved in short-chain fatty acids and ethanol production. Greses, S.; De Bernardini, N.; Treu, L.; Campanaro, S.; González-Fernández, C. Bioresource Technology, 2023, 377, 128920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128920
  7. Phosphate limitation as crucial factor to enhance yeast lipid production from short-chain fatty acids. Morales-Palomo, S.; Tomás-Pejó, E.; González-Fernández, C. Microbial Biotechnology, 2023, 16(2), pp. 372–380. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.14197
  8. Cutaneotrichosporon curvatum and Yarrowia lipolytica as key players for green chemistry: efficient oil producers from food waste via the carboxylate platform. Tomás-Pejó, E. Morales-Palomo, S. González-Fernández, C. Bioengineered, 2023, 14(1), 2286723. 10.1080/21655979.2023.2286723
  9. Hydraulic Retention Time as an Operational Tool for the Production of Short-Chain Carboxylates via Anaerobic Fermentation of Carbohydrate-Rich Waste. Aboudi, K.; Greses, S.; González-Fernández, C. Molecules, 2023, 28(18), 6635. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28186635
  10. Key role of fluorescence quantum yield in Nile Red staining method for determining intracellular lipids in yeast strains. Morales-Palomo, S.; Liras, M.; González-Fernández, C.; Tomás-Pejó, E. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, 2022, 15(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-022-02135-9

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