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  3. Alicia Carrero
Alicia Carrero received her Master degree in Chemistry (chemical engineering) from Castilla la Mancha University in 1994. After obtaining her PhD from Castilla la Mancha University in January 2000, she incorporated to the Rey Juan Carlos University making a post-doctoral stage at Utrecht University from February to September 2002. Since February 2003, she works as Associate professor of Chemical Engineering at Rey Juan Carlos University. The main research topics have been focused on the synthesis of zeolitic an mesostructured catalysts used for different applications like : gasoline synthesis, skeletal isomerization of lineal olefins, ethylene polymerization with chromium and metallocene supported catalysts and hydrogen production from bioethanol steam reforming. As a result, she has supervised 3 PhD students, she has 20 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and 18 participations in public and private funding research projects.
  • Producción de bioaceite e hidrogeno a partir de microalgas mediante procesos de licuefacción hidrotérmica y reformado con vapor en reactores de membrana

    Funding : Ministerio de economía y competitividad (ENE2017-83696-R)
    Start / End Years : 2018 - 2020
    Principal Investigator : Calles Martín, José Antonio y Carrero Fernández, Alicia
    Research Team : - Alique Amor, David - Calles Martín, José Antonio - Carrero Fernández, Alicia - Martínez Díaz, David - Sanz Villanueva, Daniel - Vicente Crespo, Gemma - Vizcaíno Madridejos, Arturo J. 

      Show summary: The controversy generated by the use of agricultural edible crops for energetic applications has increased the interest of microalgae for biofuels production. Microalgae do not need large fields for its cultivation and can grow quickly. Microalgae are a renewable, sustainable and non-polluting feedstock that contribute to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions because they use CO2 in their growth. For these reasons, the overall aim of this project is the sustainable production of hydrogen and bio-oil from microalgae.
      The microalgae hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) requires lower temperatures than pyrolysis and high pressures to maintain liquid water. This is an advantage because a highly energy demand step like microalgae drying is not needed in liquefaction with the subsequent cost saving. Based on the previous results achieved by the research group (CTQ2013-44447-R project) the bio-oil obtained from one step HTL contains high oxygen (10-20 %) and nitrogen (1-8 %) amounts which are responsible of bio-oil low stability and also of the NOx emissions during bio-oil combustion. To solve these problems, a two-step HTL process is planned in this project. The first step is carried out at low temperature (T< 200 ºC) and provides an aqueous stream by decomposition of proteins and short chain carbohydrates. Next, the solid fraction undergoes a second stage of HTL at higher temperature (T = 250-350°C) with the aim of achieving a bio-oil with low content of nitrogen and oxygen. The second stage of liquefaction also produces a gas stream mainly containing carbon dioxide that may be recirculated to the cultivation of the microalgae.
      The aqueous fractions from both stages of liquefaction can be revalued through the production of high purity hydrogen by catalytic steam reforming in a membrane reactor. Hydrogen can be used as fuel using conventional technologies (combustion engines) or in development ones (fuel cells). Additionally in this project, oxidative steam reforming reactions will be done in order to reduce the energy needs of the process and to avoid catalysts deactivation by coke deposition.
      From the environmental point of view, the project will use tools like the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to assess the emissions and energy balances, checking that they conform to a model of sustainable development.






Hydrogen Production through Oxidative Steam Reforming of Acetic Acid over Ni Catalysts Supported on Ceria-Based Materials

Megía, P. J.; Morales, A.; Vizcaíno, A. J.; Calles, J. A.; Carrero, A.

Coke evolution in simulated bio-oil aqueous fraction steam reforming using Co/SBA-15

Megía, P.J.; Vizcaíno, A.J.; Ruiz-Abad, M.; Calles J.A.; Carrero, A.

Effect of the incorporation of reducibility promoters (Cu, Ce, Ag) in Co/CaSBA-15 catalysts for acetic acid steam reforming

Megía, P.J.; Calles, J.A.; Carrero, A.; Vizcaíno, A.J.

Methanol reforming by nanostructured Pd/Sm-doped ceria catalysts

Kosinski, M.R.; Vizcaíno, A.J.; Gómez-Sainero, L.M.; Carrero, A.; Baker, R.T.

On the support effect and the Cr promotion of Co based catalysts for the acetic acid steam reforming

Cortese, M.; Ruocco, C.; Palma, V.; Megía, P. J.; Carrero, A.; Calles, J. A.

Hydrogen Production Technologies: From Fossil Fuels toward Renewable Sources. A Mini Review

Megia, P. J.; Vizcaino, A. J.; Calles, J. A.; Carrero, A.

Evaluation of bimodal polyethylene from chromium oxide/metallocene hybrid catalysts for high resistance applications

Paredes, B.; Moreno, J.; Carrero, A.; van Grieken, R.

Agglomerated Co–Cr/SBA-15 catalysts for hydrogen production through acetic acid steam reforming

Calles, J. A.; Carrero, A.; Vizcaíno, A. J.; Megía, P. J.

Catalytic behavior of Co-based catalysts in the kinetic study of acetic acid steam reforming

Megía, P.J.; Cortese, M.; Ruocco, C.; Vizcaíno. A.J.; Calles, J.A.; Carrero, A.; Palma, V.

Hydrogen production from steam reforming of acetic acid as a model compound of the aqueous fraction of microalgae HTL using Co-M/SBA-15 (M: Cu, Ag, Ce, Cr) catalysts

Megía, P. J.; Carrero, A.; Calles, J. A.; Vizcaíno, A. J.

Steam reforming of model bio-oil aqueous fraction using Ni-(Cu, Co, Cr)/SBA-15 catalysts

Calles, J. A.; Carrero, A.; Vizcaíno, A. J.; García-Moreno, L.; Megía, P. J.

Hydrogen production through glycerol steam reforming using Co catalysts supported on SBA-15 doped with Zr, Ce and La

Carrero, A.; Vizcaíno, A. J.; Calles, J. A.; García-Moreno, L.

Production of Renewable Hydrogen from Glycerol Steam Reforming over Bimetallic Ni-(Cu,Co,Cr) Catalysts Supported on SBA-15 Silica

Carrero, A.; Calles, J.A.; García-Moreno, L.; Vizcaíno, A.J.

Production of bimodal polyethylene on chromium oxide/metallocene binary catalyst: Evaluation of comonomer effects

Moreno, J.; Paredes, B.; Carrero, A.; Vélez, D.

Influence of sterospecificity and molecular weight on mechanical properties of iso-syndio-polypropylene obtained by combination of metallocene catalysts

Lopez-Moya, E.; van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Paredes, B.

Heterogeneous-catalysed direct transformation of microalga biomass into Biodiesel-Grade FAMEs

Vicente, G., Carrero, A., Rodríguez, R., del Peso, G. L.

Bimodal polypropylene through binary metallocene catalytic systems: comparison between hybrid and mixed heterogeneous catalysts

Paredes, B.; van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Lopez-Moya, E.

Comparison of ethanol steam reforming using Co and Ni catalysts supported on SBA-15 modified by Ca and Mg

Vizcaíno, A.J.; Carrero, A.; Calles, J.A.

Effect of Ce and Zr Addition to Ni/SiO2 Catalysts for Hydrogen Production through Ethanol Steam Reforming

Calles, J. A.; Carrero, A.; Vizcaíno, A. J.; Lindo, M.

Synthesis of fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) from Nannochloropsis gaditana microalga using heterogeneous acid catalysts

Carrero, A.; Vicente, G.; Rodríguez, R.; del Peso, G. L.; Santos, C

Liquid-Liquid phase equilibria for Soybean Oil Methanololysis: Experimental, modeling, and data prediction

Casas, A.; Rodríguez, J. F.; del Peso, G. L.; Rodríguez, R.; Vicente, G.; Carrero, A.

Hydrogen production by glycerol steam reforming over SBA-15-supported nickel catalysts: Effect of alkaline earth promoters on activity and stability

Calles, J. A.; Carrero, A; Vizcaíno, A. J.; García-Moreno, L.

Hybrid zeolitic-mesostructured materials as supports of metallocene polymerization catalysts

Carrero, A.; van Grieken, R.; Paredes, B.

Development of a new synthetic method based on in situ strategies for polyethylene/clay composites

Carrero, A.; van Grieken, R.; Suarez, I.; Paredes, B.

Hydrogen production by steam reforming of ethanol using Ni catalysts based on ternary mixed oxides prepared by coprecipitation

Vizcaíno, A. J.; Lindo, M.; Carrero, A.; Calles, J. A.

Study of the PENT test conditions for reducing failure times in high-resistance polyethylene resins for pipe applications

Dominguez, C.; García, R. A.; Aroca, M.; Carrero, A.

Bimodal poly(propylene) trough binary metallocene catalytic systems as an alternative to melt blending

López-Moya, E.; Van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Paredes, B.

Chromium oxide/metallocene binary catalysts for bimodal polyethylene: Hydrogen effects

Paredes, B.; van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Moreno, J.; Moral, A.

Hierarchical zeolites as catalysts for biodiesel production from Nannochloropsis microalga oil

Carrero, A.; Vicente, G.; Rodríguez, R.; Linares, M.; del Peso, G. L.

Ethylene polymerization by metallocene catalysts supported over siliceous materials with bimodal pore size distribution

Moreno, J.; van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Paredes, B.

Development of novel chromium oxide/metallocene hybrid catalysts for bimodal polyethylene

Moreno, J.; van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Paredes, B.

Ethylene/1-Hexene copolymers produced with MAO/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2) supported on SBA-15 materials with different pore sizes

Paredes, B.; van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Suarez, I.; Soares, J. B. P.

Effects of the structural components on slow crack growth process in polyethylene blends. Composition intervals prediction for pipe applications

García, R. A.; Carrero, A.; Martín, C.; Domínguez, C.

Ethylene polymerization with methylaluminoxane/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 catalyst supported on silica and silica-alumina at different AlMAO/Zr molar ratios

van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Paredes, B.

Effect of Mg and Ca addition on coke deposition over Cu–Ni/SiO2 catalysts for ethanol steam reforming

Carrero, A.; Calles, J.A.; Vizcaíno, A.J.

Ethanol steam reforming on Ni/Al-SBA-15 catalysts: Effect of the aluminium content

Lindo, M.; Vizcaíno, A.J.; Calles, J.A.; Carrero, A.

Study of the “in-situ blended” method for polyethylene/clay preparation: effect of clay pretreatment

van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Suarez, I.; Paredes, B.

  • Journal of Nanostructured Polymers and Nanocomposites, 6(3), 79-86 (2010)
Resistencia al proceso de crecimiento lento de grieta en polietilenos bimodales utilizados para su aplicación en tubería

García, R. A.; Carrero, A.; Aroca, M.; Domínguez, C.

  • Revista de Plsticos Modernos, 99(644), 197-202 (2010)
Morphological modifications of Cr/SBA-15 and Cr/Al-SBA-15 ethylene polymerization catalyst: Influence on catalytic behaviour and polymer properties

Aguado, J.; Calleja, G.; Carrero, A.; Moreno, J.

Ethanol steam reforming on Mg- and Ca-modified Cu–Ni/SBA-15 catalysts

Vizcaíno, A.J.; Carrero, A.; Calles, J. A.

Ce and La modification of mesoporous Cu–Ni/SBA-15 catalysts for hydrogen production through ethanol steam reforming

Calles, J. A.; Carrero, A.; Vizcaíno, A. J.

Ethylene polymerization over (nBuCp)2ZrCl2/MAO catalyst system supported on aluminosilicate SBA-15 mesostructured materials.

Carrero, A.; van Grieken, R.; Suarez, I.; Paredes, B.

Ethanol steam reforming on Ni/Al2O3 catalysts: Effect of Mg addition

Vizcaíno, A. J.; Arena, P; Baronetti, G.; Carrero, A.; Calles, J. A.; Laborde, M. A.; Amadeo, N.

One-step synthesis of chromium and aluminium containing SBA-15 materials - New philips catalysts for ethylene polymerization

Aguado, J.; Calleja, G.; Carrero, A.; Moreno, J.

  • Chemical Engineering Journal, 137, 443-452 (2008)
Slow Crack Growth resistence in Resin Blends of Chromium and Metallocene Catalyzed Ethylene-Hexene Copolymers for Pipe Applications

García, R. A.; Carrero, A.; Aroca, M.; Prieto, O.; Domíngez, C.

  • Polymer Engineering and Science, 48(5), 925-933 (2008)
Control of SBA-15 materials morphology by modification of synthesis conditions

Carrero, A.; Moreno, J.; Aguado, J.; Calleja, G.

  • Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 174A, 321-324 (2008)
Preparation, characterization and testing of Cr/AlSBA-15 ethylene polymerization catalysts

Calleja, G.; Aguado, J.; Carrero, A.; Moreno, J.

Hydrogen production by ethanol steam reforming over Cu-Ni/SBA-15 supported catalysts prepared by direct synthesis and impregnation

Carrero, A.; Calles, J.A.; Vizcaíno, A.J.

Characterization of ethylene-1-hexene copolymers made with supported metallocene catalysts: Influence of support type

Paredes, B.; Soares, J. B. P.; van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Suarez, I.

Ethylene polymerization over supported MAO/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 catalysts: Influence of support properties

van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Suarez, I.; Paredes, B.

Effect of 1-hexene comonomer on polyethylene particle growth and kinetic profiles

van Grieken, R.; Carrero, A.; Suarez, I.; Paredes, B.

Hydrogen production by ethanol steam reforming over Cu-Ni supported catalysts

Vizcaíno, A. J.; Carrero, A.; Calles, J. A.

Ethylene polymerization over chromium supported onto SBA-15 mesoporous materials

Calleja, G.; Aguado, J.; Carrero, A.; Moreno, J.

Chromium supported onto swelled Al-MCM-41 materials: a promising catalysts family for ethylene polymerization

Calleja, G.; Aguado, J.; Carrero, A.; Moreno, J.

Catalizadores de cromo soportados para la polimerización de etileno

Calleja, G.; Aguado, J.; Carrero, A.; Moreno, J.

  • Revista de Plsticos Modernos, 582, 584-592 (2004)
Comparative study of the catalytic properties of ferrierite zeolite exchanged with alkaline earth metals in the skeletal isomerization of n-Butene

Cañizares, P.; Carrero, A.

  • Catal. Lett., 64, 239-246 (2000)
Isomerization of n-Butene over Modified Ferrierite Zeolite by Silicon Tetraclhoride Treatment

Cañizares, P.; Carrero, A.; Sánchez, P.

  • Applied Catalysis A: General, 190, 93-105 (2000)
Dealumination of HZSM-5 Zeolites: Effect of Steaming on Acidity and Aromatization Activity

de Lucas, A.; Cañizares, P.; Durán, A.; Carrero, A.

  • Applied Catalysis A: General, 154, 221-240 (1997)
Coke Formation, Location, Nature and Regeneration on Dealuminated HZSM-5 type Zeolites

de Lucas, A.; Cañizares, P.; Durán, A.; Carrero, A.

  • Applied Catalysis A: General,156, 299-317 (1997)
Influencia de los Tratamientos de Desaluminización en la Acidez y Desactivación de Zeolitas ZSM-5

de Lucas, A.; Cañizares, P.; Durán, A.; Carrero, A.

  • Rev. Real Acad. CC. Exac. Fis. Nat., Madrid, 89, 255-262 (1995)
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