SupervisoryTeam

Supervisor Photo

Alberto Navajas

Supervisor Details

Email: alberto.navajas@unavarra.es

Organization Type: University

Organization Name: Public University of Navarre

Short Biography: After obtaining the degree of Chemical Engineering (Environmental Technologies specialty) in 2002 by the University of Zaragoza, Alberto Navajas (AN) got the degree of Doctor of Chemical Sciences from the same University with a study on the use of zeolite membranes in pervaporation. Later, at the OX?CTA company, located in Huesca, SPAIN, AN developed biodegradable aqueous disinfectants and biodegradable films with antimicrobial properties. Finally, AN joined the Public University of Navarra, where he has developed his teaching and research activity during the recent years. With regard to the first, in addition to teach subjects such as Chemistry or Ceramic Materials and Polymer Materials, AN remarks that he has mainly developed his teaching activity in subjects such as Chemical and Environmental Technology and Ecodesign. Regarding his research activity, during the last 10 years AN has published 16 articles on international journals with 378 citations, on the field of: synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts for the development of biofuels, the photo?conversion of Carbon Dioxide to hydrocarbons, and the use of the LCA to quantify environmental impacts of chemical processes/products.

Co-Supervisor Photo

Dune Indra Prat Barberan

Co-Supervisor Details

Email: duneprat@m.promindsa.com

Organization Type: Non-academic institution

Organization Name: PROMINDSA

Short Biography: Dune Prat (DN) has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Zaragoza, and a Master's degree in Sustainable Chemistry from the same university. She later worked as a researcher in the Organometallic Laboratory, of the inorganic chemistry department of the Faculty of Sciences of this university. Her work dealt with the synthesis and characterization of functionalized palladium complexes. Later she became part of the research and development department of Chemical Industries of the Ebro in work related to the improvement of the treatment process of the discharges derived from the production process and the characterization of the effluents and laboratory tests. Finally, in 2012 she started working at PROMINDSA, where she has been responsible for the Research and Development Department since 2019.

Added Value: PROMINDSA has more than one hundred years of experience in the business of extracting and conditioning iron oxides to later be used as pigments in the construction, paint and fertilizer industries. PROMIDSA is a company in the mining field that acquires iron oxides and treats and conditions ithem to be used as a pigment. In this sense, PROMIDSA is currently planning the manufacture of a new dryer in which to pre?treat iron oxides. This dryer will acquire the necessary heat by burning biomass using Chemical Looping Combustion technology. Furthermore, the oxygen carriers necessary for this CLC process will be the iron oxides sold provided by PROMINDSA. It is clear that, therefore, the doctoral student, during his/her stay at PROMINDSA, will acquire the necessary experience for the implementation in a real plant of CLC technology for burning biomass to obtain energy. Through this stay the student will be able to verify that there is a technique for obtaining clean energy that contributes to the circular economy. Burning biomass to obtain energy has a neutral carbon footprint. If pure CO2 is also obtained through CLC, it can be stored or used as raw material for other fuels synthesis, thus the carbon footprint becomes negative, avoiding and capturing CO2 emissions.

Other Co-Supervisor Photo

Luis Miguel Barba

Other Co-Supervisor

Email: luis.barba@evai.es

Organization Type: Non-academic institution

Organization Name: EVAIR Engineering Manufacturing of Air

Short Biography: Luis Miguel Barba (LMB) is an industrial engineer from the University of Zaragoza. He later spent two years in the mechanical engineering department at the University of Kansas, where he completed his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Later, he was employed for two years at the Ford factory in Detroit. Upon his return to Spain he already started working in the air conditioning sector, and later started working with his own air conditioning company, EVAIR, of which he is CEO since 2017.

Added Value: Evair has a lot of experience in the field of fluid mechanics simulation for determining energy needs for air conditioning. Thanks to these simulations, it is possible to design facilities so that the greatest energy efficiency is obtained for certain conditions. In any case, these simulations must be supported by the calculation of the carbon footprint of the different configurations to know exactly if the selected design is the one with the smallest footprint. That is why it is thought that the combination of fluid mechanics simulators with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) simulators can be a good testing ground for LCA software. Through the experience of both softwares EVAIR will contribute to the know?how of environmental design of industrial processes. LMB has extensive experience in simulation of fluid mechanics and heat transfer using finite elements to determine optimal conditions for maximum energy efficiency. In this sense, their experience is considered key to understanding the relationship between energy efficiency and carbon footprint. This project aims to generate electricity with a reduced carbon footprint, and it is considered key that the student knows how to simulate the conditions using software so that this efficiency is optimal. In addition, LMB is the CEO of a small air conditioning company, so the student, in addition to obtaining fundamental knowledge about flow and heat modeling, will be able to learn first?hand how a small and medium?sized company works to satisfy to its clients while innovating and seeking solutions to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability.

ResearchGroup

Description: The Public University of Navarre Research Group: “Chemical Reactors and Processes for the Valorization of Renewable Resources” is made up of 1 professor, 1 associated professor, 2 assistant professors and more than 10 PhD and postdoc researchers. The research group has an extended network of academic and non?academic partners: Applied Chemistry Department (Basque Country Univesity), Material Science Institute (CSIC), Carbochemistry Institute (CSIC), Nordex Group… The research group has the next research lines: ? Heterogeneous catalysis. Evaluation of the catalyst activity. ? Biofuels. Production of biodiesel from vegetable oils and waste ? Hydrogen as an energy vector. ? Capture, conversion and valorization of CO2 ? Photocatalysis: energy and environmental applications ? Microreactors. Microchannel reactors ? Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) ? Life cycle analysis (LCA) to determine the environmental impacts of industrial products/processes ? GTL processes. Catalytic reforming of natural gas and biogas. Catalytic conversion of methane. Synthetic fuels

ResearchLine

Description: Reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions has become one of the major environmental challenges of the 21st century. This project presents an innovative technology known as chemical looping combustion (CLC). CLC is a fuel conversion technology with inherent CO2 separation and efficient energy use. CLC may not require the gas separation units typically needed for the production of purified oxygen from air or CO2 separation from the exhaust gas, resulting in both cost and efficiency benefits. In order to achieve a CO2 footprint highest reduction, biomass fuel can be used in CLC as solid (e.g. straw), liquid (e.g. bioethanol) or gaseous (biomethane or syn?gas from biomass gasification). In this project, techno?economic and environmental different CLC configurations with biomass as fuel are going to be studied. UPNA is going to be in charge of the economic and environmental analysis, BOKU University is going to simulate different technical configuration and ICB?CSIC is going to provide experimental data for the different configurations. Regarding the contribution of private companies, EVAIR is going to be the testing ground to fine?tune the use of LCA software to determine carbon footprint based on different configurations. Finally, PROMIDSA will transmit its experience in the conditioning of mining resources. Its new dryer for the treatment of iron oxides will be powered by Chemical Looping Combustion with biomass, with which this company will provide the experimental basis for the implementation of this sustainable technique with a clear contribution to the circular economy.

CareerDevelopment

Objectives

  • Increased employability in the non-academic sector
  • International mobility
  • Building collaborative networks
  • Application of postdoctoral grants (MSCA, Juan de la Cierva, etc.)
  • Application for projects and funding (Horizon Europe, national plans, etc.)
  • Involvement in teaching, supervision, or mentoring

Expected Outputs

  • PhD defense
  • Application of grants (MSCA, Juan de la Cierva, etc.)
  • Publication of articles
  • Attendance to international conferences

Training Skills

  • Project Management
  • Grant Writing
  • Open Science
  • Teaching
  • Supervision
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Leadership
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