Chemical and Environmental Engineering Group

Fernando Martinez Castillejo studied Chemistry in Complutense University of Madrid for 1992-1997. He spent 4 years working on his doctoral thesis based on the treatment of wastewaters by means of the application of catalytic advanced oxidation processes. He joined to the Chemical Technology and Environmental Department of ESCET in Rey Juan Carlos University as Assistant Professor in 2001. Two years later (2003), he got his Ph.D degree in Complutense University. He became Associate Professor in Rey Juan Carlos University in 2009. He has made several stays to national and international institutions such as Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona), University of Manchester (UMIST, United Kingdom) and University of Santa Barbara (UCSB, USA) under the supervision of Frank St:über, Ian Metcalfe and Galen Stucky. His research is focused on the preparation and characterization catalyst supported over zeolitic and mesoporous materials for catalytic application in advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment. He is also working on the design of supported acid sulfonic catalysts with hydrophobic properties for application in acid catalyzed reactions for fine chemical processes. Moreover, he is also investigating on the synthesis and funtionalization of metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) as selective adsorbents for CO2 capture. He is participating as researcher in several projects supported by public and private funds which are focused on the development of integrated advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment coming from industry and sewage treatment plants. He is also responsible of the Laboratory of spectroscopic Techniques (LABTE) of Chemical Technology and Environmental Department, which is accredited by ENAC.
  • Stereolithography 3D printed porous monolithic carbons for wastewater treatment by electrochemical technologies

    Funding : Comunidad de Madrid (2022-T1/AMB-23946)
    Start / End Years : 2023 - 2028
    Principal Investigator : Díaz de Tuesta Triviño, José Luis
    Research Team : - Díaz de Tuesta Triviño, José Luis - Martínez Castillejo, Fernando - Molina Gil, Raúl - Pariente Castilla, Isabel 

      Show summary: The aim of this project is the development of suitable photoresins and biobased photoresins for the 3Dprinted hypercrosslinked polymers with high yield to the carbonization to obtain carbon monolith with high performance in electrochemical technologies, mainly electroFenton, for the treatment of wastewater. The project deals with several topics: 1) the study of suitable photoresins to obtained 3D printed polymers; 2) the carbonization processes for the preparation of polymer-derived carbon monoliths; and 3) the development of wastewater techniques based in electrochemical technologies. The preparation of polymers will be carried out by radical polymerisation from photoresins based on different acrylate monomers, photoinitiators, dye, porogens and inhibitors. Then, the carbonization, activation and functionalization of the 3D printed polymers will be assessed to obtain active carbon monolith. Both polymers and carbon materials will be characterized using diverse analytical techniques. Finally, the active carbon monoliths will be applied in electrochemical treatments of wastewaters, mainly, electroFenton with the in-situ generation of hydrogen peroxide and high removal rates of organic pollutants.









  • Integrated processes for monitoring and treatment of emerging contaminants for water reuse (MOTREM, Water JPI Pilot Call)

    Funding : WATER JPI - Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad - Acciones de Programación Conjunta Internacional - (Water JPI JPIW2013-121)
    Start / End Years : 2014 - 2017
    URL : http://motrem.eu/
    Principal Investigator : Marugán Aguado, Javier
    Research Team : - Casado Merino, Cintia - López Muñoz, Mª José - Martín Sómer, Miguel - Martínez Castillejo, Fernando - Marugán Aguado, Javier - Molina Gil, Raúl - Pablos Carro, Cristina - Pariente Castilla, Isabel - Segura Urraca, Yolanda 

      Show summary: The MOTREM project is a Water JPI project that focuses on the development of integrated processes for monitoring and treatment of emerging contaminants (ECs), improving the efficiency of the removal of these pollutants in urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), especially for water reuse. The project aims to provide new technologies for water treatment and/or improving the existing ones through the development of integrated processes for monitoring and treatment of ECs in the current waterline of municipal wastewater treatment plants, especially focusing on the aspect of water reuse. For this goal, the project combines cross- and multi-disciplinary expertise on water treatment processes design and engineering, analytical chemistry and ecotoxicology applied to ECs that guarantee the generation not only on new scientific knowledge but also of innovative commercial solutions to the market.




















Direct a-arylation of ketones efficiently catalyzed by Cu-MOF-74

Leo, P.; Orcajo, G.; Briones, D.; Martínez, F.; Calleja, G.


Biodiesel and biogas production from Isochrysis galbana using dry and wet lipid extraction: A biorefinery approach

Sánchez-Bayo, A.; López-Chicarro, D.; Morales, V.; Espada, J. J. Puyol, D.; Martínez, F.; Astals, S.; Vicente, G.; Bautista, L. F.; Rodríguez, R.


Trametes versicolor immobilized on rotating biological contactors as alternative biological treatment for the removal of emerging concern micropollutants

Cruz del Álamo. A.; Pariente, M. I.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.


Fenton-like catalyst based on a reticulated porous perovskite material: Activity and stability for the on-site removal of pharmaceutical micropollutans in a hospital wastewater

Cruz del Álamo, A.; González, C.; Pariente, M. I.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.


Trametes versicolor immobilized on rotating biological contactors as alternative biological treatment for the removal of emerging concern micropollutants

Cruz del Álamo, A.; Pariente, M. I.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.


Anaerobic digestion of purple phototrophic bacteria – The release step of the Partition-Release-Recover concept

Hülsen, T.; Luc, Y.; Rodríguez, I.; Segura, Y.; Martínez, F.; Puyol, D.; Batstone D. M.


Understanding the role of mediators in the efficiency of advanced oxidation processes using white-rot fungi

Vasiliadou, I. A.; Molina, R.; Pariente, M. I.; Christoforidis, K. C.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Novel and versatile cobalt Azobenzene-Based Metal-Organic Framework as hydrogen adsorbent

Montes-Andrés, H.; Leo, P.; Orcajo, G.; Rodríguez-Diéguez, A.; Choquesillo-Lazarte, D.; Martos, C.; Botas, J. A.; Martínez, F., Calleja, G.


Alkaline-earth metal based MOFs with second scale long-lasting phosphor behavior

Briones, D.; Leo, P.; Cepeda, J.; Orcajo, G.; Calleja, G.; Sanz, R.; Rodríguez-Diéguez, A.; Martínez, F.


Sustainable Fe-BTC catalyst for efficient removal of mehylene blue by advanced fenton oxidation

Martínez, F.; Leo, P.; Orcajo, G.; Díaz-García, M.; Sanchez-Sanchez, M.; Calleja, G.


Low-cost Fe/SiO2 catalysts for continuous Fenton processes

Martínez, F.; Molina, R.; Pariente, M. I.; Siles, J. A.; Melero, J. A.


Modeling the integrated heterogeneous catalytic fixed-bed reactor and rotating biological contactor system for the treatment of poorly biodegradable industrial agrochemical wastewater

Vasiliadou, I. A. ; Pariente, M. I.; Martinez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Molina, R.


Comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) study of heterogeneous and homogenous Fenton processes for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater

Rodríguez, R.; Espada, J. J.; Pariente, M. I.; Melero, J. A.; Martínez, J. A.; Molina, R.


Biological removal of pharmaceutical compounds using white-rot fungi with concomitant FAME production of the residual biomass

Vasiliadou, I. A.; Sánchez-Vázquez, R.; Molina, R.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Bautista, L. F.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.


Simple and efficient treatment of high-strength industrial waste water using commercial zero-valent iron

Segura, Y.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Wastewater sludges pretreated by different oxidation systems at mild conditions to promote the biogas formation in anaerobic processes.

Segura, Y.; Puyol, D.; Ballesteros, L.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J.A.


New URJC-1 Material with remarkable stability and acid-base catalytic properties

Leo, P.; Martínez, F.; Calleja, G.; Briones, D.; Wojtas, L.; Orcajo, G.


Municipal sewage sludge to biodiesel by simultaneous extraction and conversion of lipids

Melero, J. A.; Sánchez-Vázquez, R.; Vasiliadou, I. A.; Martínez Castillejo, F.; Bautista, L. F.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.; Molina, R.


Extrusion of Fe2O3/SBA-15 mesoporous material for application as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst

Pariente, M. I.; Martínez, F.; Botas, J. A.; Melero, J. A.


Intensified-Fenton process for the treatment of phenol aqueous solutions

Pariente, M. I.; Molina, R.; Melero, J. A.; Botas, J. A.; Martínez, F.


Zero valent iron (ZVI) mediated Fenton degradation of industrial wastewater: Treatment performance and characterization of final composites

Segura, Y.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Fierro, J. L. G.


Chemical surface modified-activated carbon cloth for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol

Martínez, F.; Pariente, I.; Brebou, C.; Molina, R.; Melero, J. A.; Bremner, D.; Mantzavinos, D.


Pharmaceutical wastewater degradation: effective and economical treatment using waste-metallic iron shavings

Segura, Y.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Experimental and modeling study on removal of pharmaceutically active compounds in rotating biological contactors

Vasiliadou, I. A.; Molina, R.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Treatment of an agrochemical wastewater by combined coagulation and Fenton oxidation

Molina, R.; Pariente, M. I.; Rodríguez, I.; Martinez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Biological removal of pharmaceutical and personal care products by a mixed microbial culture: Sorption, desorption and biodegradation

Vasiliadou, I. A.; Molina, R.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Synthesis of a honeycomb-like Cu-based metal–organic framework and its carbon dioxide adsorption behaviour

Sanz, R.; Martínez, F.; Orcajo, G.; Wojtas, L.; Briones, D.


Coupling membrane separation and photocatalytic oxidation processes for the degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants

Martínez, F.; López-Muñoz, M. J.; Aguado, J.; Melero, J. A.; Arsuaga, J.; Sotto, A.; Molina, R.; Segura, Y.; Pariente, M. I.; Revilla, A.; Cerro, L.; Carenas, G.


Nafion-modified large-pore silicas for the catalytic acylation of anisole with acetic anhydride

van Grieken, R.; Martínez, F.; Morales, G.; Martín, A.


Treatment of an agrochemical wastewater by integration of heterogeneous catalytic wet hydrogen peroxyde oxidation and rotating biological contactors

Pariente, M. I.; Siles, J. A.; Molina, R.; Botas, J. A.; Melero, J. A.; Martinez, F.


Effective pharmaceutical wastewater degradation by Fenton oxidation with zero-valent iron

Segura, Y.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Immobilization of active and stable goethite coated-films by a dip-coating process and its application for photo-Fenton systems

Molina, R.; Segura, Y.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Influence of preoxidizing treatments on the preparation of iron-containing activated carbons for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol

Martínez, F.; Pariente, M. I.; Botas, J. A.; Melero, J. A.; Rubalcaba, A.


Enhancement of the advanced Fenton process (Fe0/H2O2) by ultrasound for the mineralization of phenol

Segura, Y.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Molina, R.; Chand, R.; Bremmer, D. H.


Drugs of abuse in surface and tap waters of the Tagus River basin: Heterogeneous photo-Fenton process is effective in their degradation

Valcárcel, Y.; Martínez, F.; González-Alonso, S.; Segura, Y.; Catalá, M.; Molina, R.; Montero-Rubio, J. C.; Mastroianni, N.; López de Alda, M.; Postigo, C.; Barceló, D.


Assesment of Fe2O3/SiO2 catalysts for the continuous treatment of phenol aqueous solutions in a fixed bed reactor

Botas, J. A.; Melero, J. A.; Martínez, F.; Pariente, M. I.


Photo-Fenton treatment dramatically reduces pharmaceutical contamination from Madrid river water samples bur does not elimnate ecotoxicity: Development and application of a naturally miniaturised bioassay based on fern spores

Rodríguez-Gil J. L.; Catalá, M.; González, S.; Romo, R.; Valcarcel, Y.; Segura Y.; Molina R.; Melero J. A.; Martínez F.


Catalytic wet hydrogen peroxide oxidation of a petrochemical wastewater

Pariente, M. I.; Melero, J. A.; Martínez, F.; Botas, J. A.; Gallego, A. I.


Sulfonated polystyrene-modified mesoporous organosilicas for acid-catalyzed processes

Morales, G.; van Grieken, R.; Martín, A.; Martínez, F.


Acid hybrid catalyst from Poly(styrenesulfonic acid) grafted onto ultra-large-pore SBA-15 silica using atom tranfer radical polymerization

Martín, A.; Morales G.; Martinez, F.; van Grieken, R.; Cao, L.; Kruk, M.


Heterogeneous catalytic wet peroxide oxidation systems for the treatment of an industrial pharmaceutical wastewater

Melero, J. A.; Martínez, F.; Botas, J. A.; Molina, R.; Pariente, M. I.


Degradation of phenolic aqueous solutions by high frequency sono-Fenton systems (US-Fe2O3/SBA-15-H2O2)

Bremmer, D. H.; Molina, R.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Segura, Y.


Integrated heterogeneous sono-photo Fenton processes for the degradation of phenolic aqueous solutions

Segura, Y.; Molina, R.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.


Perfluorinated Nafion-modified SBA-15 materials for catalytic acylation of anisole

Martinez, F.; Morales, G.; Martín, A.; van Grieken, R.


Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation process for the continuous treatment of pulluted effluents on a pilot plant scale

Martínez, F.; Pariente, M. I.; Melero, J. A.; Botas, J. A.

  • Journal of Advanced Oxidation Technology, 11(1), 65-74 (2008)

Effect of ultrasound on the properties of heterogeneous catalysts for sono-Fenton oxidation processes

Melero, J. A.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.

  • Journal of Advanced Oxidation Technology, 11(1), 75-83 (2008)

Polystyrene modified hybrid materials based on ordered mesoporous silica

van Grieken, R.; Morales, G.; Martín, A.; Martínez, F.


Heterogeneous photo-Fenton oxidation of benzoic acid in water: Effect of operatin conditions, reaction by-products and coupling with biological treatment biological treatment

Pariente, M. I.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Botas, J. A.; Velegraki, Th.; Xekoukoulotakis, N. P.; Mantzavinos, D.


Catalytic wet peroxidation of phenol in a fixed bed reactor

Martínez, F.; Pariente, M. I.; Melero, J. A.; Botas, J.A.; Gómez, E.

  • Water Science and Technology, 55(12), 75-81 (2007)

Treatment of phenolic solutions by catalytic wet hydrogen peroxide oxidation over Fe2O3/SBA-15 extruded catalyst in a fixed bed reactor

Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Botas, J. A.; Pariente, I.; Molina, R.

  • Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 46, 4396-4405 (2007)

Nanocomposite Fe2O3/SBA-15: An efficient and stable catalyst for the catalytic wet peroxidation of phenolic aqueous solutions

Melero, J. A.; Calleja, G.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.; Pariente M. I.


Iron Species Incorporated over Different Silica Supports for the Heterogeneous Photo-Fenton Oxidation of Phenol.

Martínez, F.; Calleja, G.; Melero, J. A.; Molina, R.


Mineralization of Phenol by a Heterogeneous Ultrasound/Fe-SBA-15/H2O2 Process: Multivariate Study by Factorial Design of Experiments.

Molina, R.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Bremner, D. H.; Chakinala, A. G.


Nanocomposite of Crystalline Fe2O3 and CuO Particles and Mesostructured SBA-15 Silica as an Active Catalyst for Wet Peroxide Oxidation Processes.

Melero, J. A.; Calleja, G.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.


Heterogeneous photo-Fenton degradation of phenolic aqueous solutions over iron-containing SBA-15 catalyst

Martínez, F.; Calleja, G.; Melero, J. A.; Molina, R.


Activity and resistance of iron-containing amorphous, zeolitic and mesostructured materials for wet peroxide oxidation of phenol

Calleja, G.; Melero, J. A;. Martínez, F.; Molina, R.


Stabilization of Iron in Micro- and Mesoporous Ferrisilicates (MFI, MCM-22, SBA-15, and MCM-41) as Detected by in Situ Mössbauer Spectroscopy.

Lázár, K.; Szegedi, Á.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.; Fejes, P.

  • Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 158, 733-740 (2005)

Crystallization Mechanism of Fe-MFI from Wetness Impregnated Fe2O3–SiO2 Amorphous Xerogels: Role of Iron Species in Fenton-like Processes

Melero, J. A.; Calleja, G.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.; Lázár, K.


Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation of Phenolic Solutions over a LaTi1-xCuxO3 Perovskite Catalyst

Sotelo, J. L.; Ovejero, G.; Martínez, F.; Melero, J. A.; Millieni, A.

  • Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 47, 281-294 (2004)

Activity and stability of Fenton-like species supported over different silica structures

Calleja, G.; Melero, J.A.; Martínez, F.; Molina, R.

  • Oxidation Tecnologies for water and wastewater treatment. Special Topic: AOPs for Recycling and Reuse. N 57 pp. 530-535 (2003)

Synthesis and Characterization of Iron-containing SBA-15 Mesoporous Silica

Martínez, F.; Han, Y-J.; Stucky, G.; Sotelo, J.L.; Ovejero, G.; Melero, J.A.

  • Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 142, 1109-1116 (2002)

Novel Heterogeneous Catalysts in the Wet Peroxide Oxidation of Phenol

Ovejero, G.; Sotelo, J.L.; Martinez, F.; Gordo, L.

  • Water Science and Technology, 44(5), 153-160 (2001)

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