Department of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering
University of Cantabria (SPAIN)
RESEARCH GROUP: DePRO
PI: Ángel Irabien
http://www.unican.es/Departamentos/ingqui
mica/Investigacion/20100208.htm
OCTOBER 2014
DePRO Main fields of interest
PROCESS INTENSIFICATION
PROCESS INTEGRATION
More info…
Website:
http://www.unican.es/Departamentos/ing
quimica/Investigacion/20100208.htm
Distribution
Manufacturing
and Retail
Use
Collection
Design
Resource
extraction
processing
Re-use,
Recycling,
Energy
discovery,
Disposal
METRICS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
ASSESSMENT
Index
1. Introduction: about us
2. Research
-ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (ENV SUS): Dr. Ignacio Fernández-Olmo
-LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA): Dr. Rubén Aldaco
-SUSTAINABLE AND INNOVATIVE MEMBRABNE TECHNOLOGIES (MEMB): Dr. Aurora Garea, Dr. Clara Casado
-CARBON CAPTURE AND VALORIZATION (CO2): Dr. Antonio Domínguez-Ramos, Dr. Manuel Alvarez-Guerra
-PROCESS AND ENERGY ENGINEERING (CAPE): Prof. Angel Irabien, Prof. Ignacio Eguiluz
3. Analytical Facilities
1.
Introduction: about us
1. Who are we?
Prof. Ángel Irabien Gulías
Dr. Roberto Arce Recio
Dr. Antonio Dominguez Ramos
Prof. L.I. Eguiluz Morán
Dra. Cristina Lasa Diaz
Enrique Alvarez-Guerra
Dra. Aurora Garea Vázquez
Dra. Olga Oliván Martinez
Dr. Axel Arruti Fernández
Dr. Ignacio Fernandez-Olmo
Dra. Clara Casado Coterillo
Dr. Julián Diaz Ortiz
Dr. Rubén Aldaco García
Dr. Manuel Alvarez-Guerra
Dr. Jose Antonio Fernández
PhD. Students:
Technicians:
Andrés del Castillo Martín
Isabel García Herrero
Elena Manteca Rivera
Ana Fernández Barquín
María Margallo Blanco
Beatriz Arce Pascual
Lucía Gomez Coma
Javier Pinedo Alonso
Ana Hernández Pellón
Esther Santos Santamaria
German Santos Bregel
2. Where are we?
E.T.S Ingenieros Industriales y Telecomunicación
Avda. Los Castros s/n 39005 Santander (Cantabria)
Spain
2.
Research: ENV SUS

Assessment of heavy metal levels in ambient air by means
of tools based on multivariate analysis
Supervisor: Prof. Ignacio Fernández-Olmo
PhD. Germán Santos
Atmospheric pollution due to the presence of particulate matter (PM) in ambient air remains one of the
environmental issues of concern in urban areas, especially because of the adverse health effects
associated with some of its constituents such as heavy metals. In this respect, the European Union (EU)
through the Air Quality Framework Directive has set air quality targets for some trace metals in particulate
matter. However, the analytical procedures for the determination of heavy metals in PM are expensive
and time-consuming.
According to EU Directives, since the heavy metal levels do not exceed the lower assessment threshold in
some studied sites of Cantabria (Northern Spain), objective estimation techniques can be used as an
alternative to experimental determination. These techniques can be interpreted as mathematical methods
to calculate concentrations from values measured at other locations and/or times. In this regard,
multivariate regression techniques are widely used in the literature to estimate the concentration of air
pollutants.
The aim of this work is to estimate PM-bound metal levels in some urban areas in Cantabria by means of
statistical models based on multivariate analysis techniques. These estimations can be used for air quality
assessment as an alternative to experimental measurements.
Analysis
Sampling
Multivariate analysis
INPUTS:
Heavy metal
measurements
Microwave-assisted
digestion
ICP/MS
ESTIMATIONS:
Heavy metal levels
2.
Research: LCA
Life cycle assessment of packaging waste incineration

in Spain and Portugal: a multi input/output allocation
model
Supervisors: Dr. Rubén Aldaco, Prof. Angel Irabien
PhD. María Margallo
Waste generation in Europe has increased in recent years, amounting to more than 2 billion tons in 2010. Most
common waste treatments are landfilling, incineration and recycling. However, despite landfilling is still the most
common practice, waste incineration has increased in the last years.The main advantages of incineration are the
reduction of mass and volume of residues and the recovery of energy. However, incineration had gained a
bad reputation owing to the environmental impact. To assess the advantages and disadvantages and
the environmental impacts a life cycle perspective is required. Within the framework of FENIX project it is
proposed a multi input-output allocation model that describe the Spanish and Portuguese waste
incineration landscape.
MAIN PRODUCT
Life Cycle
Assessment
(LCA)
“Collection and assessment of inputs, outputs and
potencial environemtnal impacts of a product
system along its life cycle ” (ISO 14040:2006)
Electric energy
SOLID RESIDUES
Electric
Energy
Ash
Water
MAIN INPUT
LANDFILL
Packaging
waste
Slag
THERMAL
From cradle
Raw material
extraction
Transport
Production
To
grave
ANCILLARY MATERIALS
Waste
treatment
Use
Packaging
AND FLUE GASES
Air
TREATMENT WITH
Water
ENERGY RECOVERY
Natural gas
/gasoil
Urea/NH 3
Inert material
ASH
SOLIDIFICATION
Energy
MAGNETIC
SEPARATION
Inert material
Scrap
EMISSIONS TO AIR
Organic compounds
Heavy metals
Nitrogen compounds
SOx, S 2O
CaO/Ca(OH)2
HCl
Activated
carbon
HF
CO2, CO, CH 4
STEEL
PRODUCTION
2.
Research: MEMB

Valorization of bovine whey proteins by means of ionic
liquid-based systems
Supervisor: Prof. Angel Irabien
PhD. Enrique Alvarez-Guerra
Bovine whey is a by-product from cheese manufacture that is
considered an industrial wastewater pollutant, but it contains high
added value compounds such as lactoferrin (LF), a bovine whey
proteins with important nutraceutical properties.
Traditional methods to obtain whey proteins are time and cost
consuming, so they constitute the major bottleneck of the
technical and economic viability of protein valorization processes.
The aim of this work is the development of a valorization process
that overcome the constraints of traditional methods. For this
purpose, the advantages of liquid-liquid extraction techniques are
combined with the interesting properties of the ionic liquids. Whey
proteins can be recovered at the liquid-liquid interface when
specific ionic liquid/salt systems are used.
Aqueous ionic
liquid-rich phase
Protein recovered
at L-L interface
Aqueous salt-rich
phase
 Recent Publication:
E. Alvarez-Guerra, A. Irabien, Extraction of lactoferrin with hydrophobic ionic liquids. Sep. Purif.
Technol. 98 (2012) 432–440.
2.
Research: MEMB

New membrane materials for CO2 separation
Dr. Clara Casado-Coterillo
The performance of gas separation membranes is usually studied by their
permeability (production) and selectivity (separation factor). In this light, the
research starts from commercially available polymers or polymer membranes
of high free volume, i.e. high permeability, that fall on the upperbound
established by Prof. Robeson in 2008 and improve their selectivity by the
introduction of materials that are proved good adsorbents or absorbents for
CO2, such as molecular sieves (zeo-types or inorganic particles), ionic liquids
and/or polymerizable ionic liquids in a polymer that is already highly
permeable to this gas.
Figure. Robeson’s upperbound
Research: MEMB
Preparation and characterization of flat and hollow fiber

membranes for CO2 separation
Supervisors: Dr. Clara Casado Coterillo and Prof. Ángel Irabien
PhD: Ana Fernández Barquín
9

Membrane configuration is a key factor to improve the area and to reduce cost and
volume. Hollow fiber configuration seems to satisfy these requirements being able to treat
high CO2 volume and present elevated area/volume ratio, good operating flexibility and
handling in the manufacturing of modules. These factors affect the efficiency of the
membrane in the separation process and facilitate the scaling up of the permeation unit.

My research focuses on the change of geometry from flat configuration to hollow fiber
membranes. Those materials which overcome the existent material capacity in the CO2/N2
separation, will be used in the generation of hollow fibers, whose separation and transport
properties will be measured, in the same way, to analyze the geometry change effect.
2.
Research: MEMB

Non-dispersive absorption with ionic liquids
Supervisors: Prof. Ángel Irabien, Dr. Aurora Garea
PhD. Lucía Gómez Coma
Post-combustion system based on amines is used conventionally for carbon dioxide separation.
However ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as new attractive solvents because of their zero emission
solvent feature.
The aim of this work is to describe the temperature effect on the carbon dioxide mass transfer
coefficient when applying an IL with high CO2 solubility: 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate
[emim][Ac]. Polypropylene membrane contactors are used to achieve this issue. The overall mass
transfer coefficient and the process efficiency are experimentally calculated and discussed in terms
of CO2 recovery. Furthermore, the chemical reaction between [emim][Ac] and CO2 is being studied.
2.
Research: CO2

CO2 separation using Supported Ionic Liquid
membranes (SILMs)
Supervisors: Prof. Ángel Irabien and Dr. Jonathan Albo
PhD. Esther Santos
New more energy-efficient and cost-effective strategies are needed
for CO2 removal from gas streams. Among various membranes for CO2
separation, Supported Ionic Liquid Membranes (SILMs) show
higher selectivity compared to polymeric membranes. Nevertheless,
the application of SILMs in gas separation still remains some
challenges.
The main objective of our work is to investigate new
absorbents with higher capacity and selectivity for CO2 capture.
 Recent Publications:
J.Albo, E.Santos, L.A.Neves, S.P.Simeonov, C.A.M.Afonso, J.G.Crespo,A. Irabien, Separation performance study
of CO2 through Supported Magnetic Ionic Liquid Membranes(SMILMs). Sep. Purif. Technol. 97(2012) 26-33.
E. Santos, J. Albo, C. I. Daniel, C.A.M. Portugal, J.G. Crespo, A. Irabien, Permeability modulation of Supported
Magnetic Ionic Liquid Membranes (SMILMs) by an external magnetic field. J. Membr. Sci. 430(2013) 56–61.
E.Santos, J.Albo, A. Rosatella, C.A.M.Afonso, A. Irabien, Magnetic Ionic Liquids (MILs) for Supported Magnetic
Ionic Liquid Membranes (SMILMs). I&ECR (Under review)
2.
Research: CO2
 CO2 valorization to formate: electroreduction in aqueous media
Supervisors: Prof. Angel Irabien , Dr. Manuel Alvarez-Guerra
Master Student: Andrés Del Castillo
The conversion of CO2 into fuels and chemical products appears as a more
interesting option than carbon storage, since it allows the recycling of CO2 into
added-value products.
One of the most interesting is formate because it is a raw material used at
several industries and it is a promising candidate fuel for low-temperature fuelcells. The performance of continuous electro-reduction processes for CO2
valorization into formate is currently being studied using tin, both in the form of
Sn plate cathode or Sn nanopowder deposited on a gas diffusion electrode (GDE).
Cathode: 2e- +H++CO2  HCOOAnode: 2OH-  ½ O2 + H2O + 2e-
2.
Research: CO2

CO2 valorization to carbonates: electrosynthesis of
dimethyl carbonate from methanol in the presence of
ionic liquid [bmim][Br]
Supervisors: Prof. Ángel Irabien, Dr. Manuel Alvarez-Guerra
PhD. Mª Isabel García
Carbon dioxide is one of the main contributors to greenhouse effect, so avoiding CO2
emissions by its capture and subsequent storage, or even better, subsequent valorization
into valuable products, has attracted much attention. Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is an
environmentally friendly valuable chemical of great interest, used as alkylating agent,
intermediate in the production of higher carbonates and potential gasoline additive due to
its high oxygen content.
The aim of this work is to assess the technical feasibility of CO2 valorization into DMC by
means of electrosynthesis using CO2 and methanol, in the presence of ionic liquid
[bmim][Br] and with potassium methoxide as cocatalyst. A filter press cell with anodic and
cationic compartments separated by a Nafion cation-exchange membrane is used, and Pt/Nb
plates are selected as electrodes. The proposed approach avoids the conventional addition
of alkylating agents such as carcinogenic CH3I, and unlike previous work that used an
undivided cell, our experimental set-up involves a filter-press type cell configuration to allow
continuous operation.
Filter press cell
Gaskets
ANOLYTE
Gasket
GasketGasket
Frame
Anode
Pt/Nb
Membrane
Gasket Gaskets
Frame
Reference
electrode
Cathode
Pt/Nb
CATHOLYTE
3.
Analytical Facilities

Analysis of Environmental parameters : Ecotoxicity, TOC, BOD, COD,…

Sample preparation techniques: Digestion/Extraction, Clean-up, Concentration,
Lyophilization, Filtration.
3.
Analytical Facilities

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS):
High Resolution GC/MS DFS Thermo Fisher Scientific

Liquid chromatography:
HPLC with photodiode array detector series 1100 Agilent
Ionic Chromatographs DX-120 and ICS-5000 Dionex

Gas Chromatography:
Gas Chromatograph GCMS-QP2010 Ultra Shimadzu
Gas chromatograph GC 6890 Agilent
3.
Analytical Facilities

Spectroscopic techniques:
Spectrophotometer UV/vis DR-5000 Hach Lange
Emission spectrometer Plasma 400 Perkin Elmer
Atomic absorption spectrometer 3100 Perkin Elmer
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry 7500 Agilent

Solid characterization:
Thermobalance DTG-60H Shimadzu
B.E.T. equipment for determination of the surface area and
pore size Asap 2000 Micromeritics

Chemical laboratory:
Analysis of ammonia nitrogen, pH, conductivity, laboratory
drying ovens and furnaces, magnetic stirrers, ultrasound bath,
water purification systems…
2.
Research: ENV SUS
 Recent Publications:
S. Ruiz, A. Arruti, I. Fernández-Olmo, J.A. Irabien, Contribution of point sources to trace metal levels in
urban areas surrounded by industrial activities in the Cantabria Region (Northern Spain), Procedia
Environmental Sciences,4 (2011) 76-86.
 Related Projects:
Title: Sostenibilidad de la producción: intensificación e integración de procesos en la industria
química y transformadora.
Participant entities: UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA
Duration, since 2006 to 2011
Main researcher: Angel Irabien
Title: Programa de Calidad del Aire y Control del Cambio Climático en Cantabria
Participant entities: UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA
Duration, since 04/2006 to 07/2007.
Main researcher: Ignacio Fernández
Title: Actuaciones para el diagnóstico y mejora de la calidad del aire en la Comunidad Autónoma
de Cantabria
Participant entities: UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA
Duration, since 04/2008 to 12/2010.
Main researcher: Ignacio Fernández
2.
Research: ENV SUS
 Conferences:
“Estimation of ambient air levels of regulated heavy metals by means of Partial Least Squares Regression
(PLSR)”, G. Santos and I. Fernández-Olmo. HARMO 15 Conference, 15th International Conference on
Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes. 6-9 May 2013 (Madrid). Poster
presentation.
 Related Projects:
Title: Herramientas para la evaluación de la concentración y depósito de metales pesados y compuestos
orgánicos persistentes (COPs) en aire ambiente a escala local/regional.
Participant entities: UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA
Duration, since 01/01/2011 to 02/01/2014
Main researcher: Ignacio Fernández-Olmo
2.
Research: LCA
 Recent Publications:
García V., Margallo M., Aldaco R., Urtiaga A., Irabien A. Environmental Sustainability Assessment of an
innovative Cr (III) passivation process. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2013. Accepted paper
Margallo M., Aldaco R., Bala A., Fullana P., Irabien A. Best Available Techniques in Municipal Solid Waste
Incineration: State of the Art in Spain and Portugal Chemical Engineering Transactions 2012, 29, pp. 13451350.
Margallo M., Aldaco R., Bala A., Fullana P., Irabien A. Implementation of the Selective Collection in Small
Villages of less than 50 Inhabitants in Cantabria Region (Spain): Preliminary Viability Study. Chemical
Engineering Transactions 2010, 21, pp. 733-738.
 Related Projects:
Title: FENIX-Giving Packaging a New Life
Participant entities: Esci-GiGa, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Spain), PE International (Germany), Sociedade Ponto
Verde (Portugal), Ecoembres (Spain), Universidad de Cantabria (Spain), Universidad San Jorge, Centro
Tecnológico de Miranda de Ebro, Escola d'Engineyeria d'Igualada (Spain), Instituto Tecnológico Metalmecánico
(Spain) , Instituto Tecnológico del Mueble (Spain) , Madera, Embalaje y Afines (Spain), Instituto Tecnológico del
Plástico (AIMPLAS), Universidad de Santiago (Spain), Instituto Andaluz de Tecnología (Spain), Cátedra Ecoembes de
Medio Ambiente de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain), Universidad de Tras- os-Montes e Alto Douro
(Portugal), LNEG - Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (Portugal), CCIAM - Climate Change Research Group
(Portugal), Universidad Católica Portuguesa (Portugal)
Duration, since 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2012
Main researcher: Rubén Aldaco
2.
Research: MEMB
 Recent Publications:
R. Abejón, A. Garea, A. Irabien. Optimum design of reverse osmosis systems for hydrogen peroxide
ultrapurification. AIChE Journal, 58 (2012) 3718-3730.
R. Abejón, A. Garea, A. Irabien. Minimization of energy consumption for chemicals ultrapurification
processes. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 29 (2012) 1549-1554.
R. Abejón, A. Garea, A. Irabien. Integrated countercurrent reverse osmosis cascades for hydrogen
peroxide ultrapurification. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 41 (2012) 67-76.
R. Abejón, A. Garea, A. Irabien. Analysis, modelling and simulation of hydrogen peroxide
ultrapurification by multistage reverse osmosis. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 90 (2012)
442-452
R. Abejón, A. Garea, A. Irabien. Multiobjective optimization of membrane processes for chemicals
ultrapurification. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 30 (2012) 542-546.
 Related Projects:
Title: Ultrapurification of Wet Chemicals to Electronic Grade Based on Membranes Technology
Participant entities: UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA
Duration, since 01/10/2010 to 30/09/2013
Main researcher: Aurora Garea
2.
Research: MEMB
 Congresses & Conferences:
E. Alvarez-Guerra, A. Irabien, Lactoferrin concentration by means of ionic liquid-based three phase
partitioning (ILTPP), ECCE9 2013, The Hague (Netherlands) 21st- 25th April 2013. Oral presentation.
E. Alvarez-Guerra, A. Irabien, Selective extraction of lactoferrin with imidazolium-based ionic liquids,
CHISA 2012 Prague (Czech Republic) 25th- 29th August 2012. Poster presentation.
E. Alvarez-Guerra, A. Irabien, Direct extraction of lactoferrin with ionic liquids, ANQUE-ICCE 2012
Sevilla (Spain) 24th- 27th June 2012. Oral presentation.
E. Alvarez-Guerra, A. Irabien, Transport of lactoferrin through bulk ionic liquid membranes, 12th
Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering, Barcelona (Spain), 15th -18th November 2011. Poster
presentation.
 Related Projects:
Title: Development of Novel Stimuli-Responsive Membranes Integrating Magnetic Ionic Liquids for
Innovative Separation Processes (EUI2008-03857) MICINN (ERANET)
Partners: Universidad de Cantabria (UC), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Universidade de Lisboa (UL)
Duration: 15/09/2009 to 31/12/2012
2.
Research: MEMB
 Recent publications
C. Casado-Coterillo, J. Soto, M. T. Jimaré, S. Valencia, A. Corma, C. Téllez, J. Coronas (2012)
“Preparation and characterization of ITQ-29/polysulfone mixed matrix membranes for gas
separation: effect of zeolite composition and particle size”, Chemical Engineering Science,
73, 116-122.
C. Casado, J. Castán, I. Gracia, M. Yus, V. Sebastián, P. López-Ram-d-Viu, S. Uriel, J. Coronas
(2012) “L- and D-proline adsorption by chiral ordered mesoporous silica”, Langmuir, 28,
6638-6644.
J. M. Zamaro, N. C. Pérez, E. E. Miró, C. Casado, B. Seoane, C. Téllez, J. Coronas (2012) “CuO
and CuO-CeO2 nanoparticle catalysts derived from HKUST-1 MOF for CO oxidation”, Chem.
Eng. J., 195-196, 180-187
J. Gascón, F. Kapteijn, B. Zornoza, V. Sebastián, C. Casado, J. Coronas, Practical Approach to
Zeolitic Membranes and Coatings: State of the Art, Opportunities, Barriers, and Future
Perspectives, Chemistry of Materials, 24(15) 2829-2844.
S. Castarlenas, P. Gorgojo, C. Casado, S. Masheshwari, M. Tsapatsis, C. Téllez, J. Coronas
(2013) “Melt compounding of swollen titanosilicate JDF-L1 with polysulfone to obtain mixed
matrix membranes for H2/CH4 separation”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 52, 1901-1907.
B. Zornoza, C. Casado-Coterillo, A. Navajas (2012) “Advances in hydrogen separation and
purification with membranes”, in: Renewable Hydrogen Technologies: Production,
Purification, Storage, Applications and Safety (Eds.: L.M. Gandia, G. Arzamendi and P.M.
Diéguez), IN PRESS. Elsevier: Amsterdam
2.
Research: MEMB

Contributions to conferences
C. Casado-Coterillo, J. Albo, E. Santos, A. Irabien (2012) “Poly[VTBMA][Ac] based mixed matrix
membrane for CO2 separation from a gas stream”, 12th International Conference on Inorganic
Membranes, 9-13 Julio, Enschede, The Netherlands. Poster. Personal communication.
C. Casado-Coterillo, E. Santos Santamaria., J. Albo, A. Irabien, “Mixed matrix membranes from
polymerizable ionic liquids”, 20th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering,
CHISA 2012, 25-29th August, Prague, Tcheck Republic, Poster.
A. Sánchez, B. Murillo, V. Sebastián, V., C. Casado, P: López-Ram-de-Viu, C. Téllez, J. Coronas (2012)
“Conversion of glucose to methyl lactate with MCM-41 based catalysts”, 7th International Conference on
Environmental Catalysis, 2-6th September, Lyon, Francia. Poster.
B. Murillo, C. Rubio, C. Casado, C. Tellez, J. Coronas (2012) “Layered titanosilicates and MOFs as catalysts
for glucose conversion to lactic acid derivatives”, 7th International Conference on Environmental
Catalysis, 2-6th September, Lyon, France. Poster. Paper submitted to Micropor. Mesopor. Mater.
C. Casado-Coterillo, L. Arce, J. Albo, A. Irabien, “Membranes for CO2/N2 separation based on green
chemistry components: ETS-10, chitosan and ionic liquids”, 7th World Conference on Chemical
Engineering, 18-22th August, Seoul, South Korea.
 Related projects
Title: Synthesis, characterization and technological viability of new membranes for gas separation
(RYC2011-08550)
Partners: MINECO - Ramón y Cajal Programme, Universidad de Cantabria
Duration, financial aid: from Jan 2012 till Dec 2014
Main Researcher: Clara Casado Coterillo
Title: Nuevas membranas selectivas para la separación de CO2 (CTQ2012-31229)
Partners: TECNALIA, Universidad de Málaga, Universidad de Cantabria
Duration: from Jan 2013 till Dec 2014
Main Researcher: Clara Casado Coterillo
2.
Research: MEMB
 Contributions to conferences
Albo J., Gómez L., Irabien A. Non-dispersive absorption of CO2 using membrane contactors and ionic
liquids. International Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering (ISCRE22). 2012. Maastricht (The
Netherlands). Poster communication
 Related Projects:
Title: Desarrollo de un proceso de captura y reciclado de CO2 (ENE2010-14828)
Participant entities: Universidad de Cantabria, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia
Duration, since 01/2011 to 12/2013
Main researcher: Angel Irabien Gulias
Title: Nuevas membranas selectivas para la separación de CO2 (CTQ2012-31229)
Participant entities: TECNALIA, Universidad de Málaga, Universidad de Cantabria
Duration, since 01/2013 to 12/2014
Main Researcher: Clara Casado Coterillo
2.
Research: CO2
 Main Congresses & Conferences:
“Solubility of carbon dioxide in Magnetic ionic Liquids (MILs)”, Albo J., Santos E., Afonso C., Rosatella A.,
Irabien A., 2nd IMIL A Coruña (Spain), 20th-22nd July 2011. Oral presentation.
“High CO2 solubility in task-specific ionic liquids containing the acetate anion”, Santos E., Albo J.,
Irabien A., ANQUE-ICCE 2012 Sevilla (Spain) 24th- 27th June 2012. Oral presentation.
“CO2 capture based on absorption/desorption with [Emim][Ac] ionic liquid”, Santos E., Albo J.,
Irabien A.,CHISA 2012 Prague (Czech Republic), 25th- 29th August 2012. Oral presentation.
“Synthesis, characterization and potential applications of Magnetic Ionic Liquids (MILs)”, Santos E., Albo J.,
Daniel C.I., Portugal C.A.M., Afonso C.A.M.., Crespo J.G., Irabien A. ECCE9 2013 The Hague (Netherlands), 21st25th April 2013. Oral presentation.
 Related Projects:
Title: Development of Novel Stimuli-Responsive Membranes Integrating Magnetic Ionic Liquids for
Innovative Separation Processes (EUI2008-03857) MICINN (ERANET)
Partners: Universidad de Cantabria (UC), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Universidade de Lisboa (UL)
Duration: 15/09/2009 to 31/12/2012
Title: Desarrollo de un proceso de captura y reciclado de CO2 (ENE2010-14828) MICINN (Convocatoria de
Plan Nacional (Energía) 2009)
Duration: 1/1/2011 to 31/12/2013
2.
Research: CO2
 Communications:
“Continuous electrochemical reduction for the valorisation of CO2 into formate: influence of
variables using tin cathode” M. Alvarez-Guerra, A. Del Castillo, A. Irabien. ANQUE-ICCE 2012
Sevilla (Spain) 24th- 27th June 2012. Oral presentation.
“CO2 valorisation: comparing Sn and Pb cathodes for continuous electrochemical reduction
of CO2 to formate” . M. Alvarez-Guerra, A. Del Castillo, A. Irabien. CHISA 2012 Prague (Czech
Republic), 25th- 29th August 2012. Oral presentation.
 Related projetc:
Title: Desarrollo de un proceso de captura y reciclado de CO2 (ENE2010-14828).
Partners: Universidad de Cantabria, Ministerio de Ciencia y Educación
Duration: since 01/01/2012 to 02/12/2013
Main researcher: Angel Irabien Gulías
2.
Research: CO2
 Related Congress:
“CO2 valorization to carbonates: electrosynthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol in the
presence of ionic liquid [bmim][Br]”, M.I. García-Herrero, M. Alvarez-Guerra, A. Irabien. WCCE9
2013, 9th World Congress of Chemical Engineering. 18th-23rd August 2013, Seoul (Korea). Abstract
submitted.
 Related Projects:
Title: Desarrollo de un proceso de captura y reciclado de CO2 (ENE2010-14828).
Partners: Universidad de Cantabria, Ministerio de Ciencia y Educación
Duration: since 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2013
Main researcher: Angel Irabien Gulias
Type of participation: FPI fellowship
SOSPROCAN PEOPLE
DePRO group
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering
ETSIIyT, Avda. los Castros s/n
Santander, Cantabria. SPAIN
E-mail: irabienj@unican.es
«We know what we have to do to achieve the sustainability,
now it’s time to do it »