Chemical and Environmental Engineering Group

Ismael Fernández Mena is an Assistant Professor at the URJC. He obtained his degree in Chemical Engineering from the Autonomous University of Madrid in 2013 and completed the Master in Chemical Engineering from the King Juan Carlos University and the Autonomous University of Madrid in 2015. He is a PhD in Applied Chemistry from the Autonomous University de Madrid (2019) investigating the use of different strategies for the removal of ionic liquids in water. He carried out his research as a postdoctoral researcher with a Juan de la Cierva Formación grant (2020-2023) and through a European project (2023-2024).
He has participated in research in the field of Environmental Engineering, focusing on the treatment of wastewater through advanced oxidation processes or biological treatments, as well as the use of electrochemical processes to produce oxidants (ozone, hydrogen peroxide, persulfate...) for the treatment of wastewater and polluted soils, and for atmospheric decontamination through electro-absorption processes. He has made 2 predoctoral stays, the first at the University of Bremen under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Stefan Stolte and the second at the University of Cincinnati under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Dionysios D. Dionysiou; and a postdoctoral stay at Porto University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Vítor J.P. Vilar.
He has co-directed Final Degree Projects and Master's Thesis, has participated in international, national and regional projects, has attended several national and international conferences, and has taught on different degrees (Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences...).





Integration of a 3D-printed electrochemical reactor with a tubular membrane photoreactor to promote sulfate-based advanced oxidation processes

de Olivera, A.R.; Santos, C.S.; Mena, I.F.; Montiel, M.A.; Montes, R.; Quintana, J.B.; Rodil, R.; Gomes, A.I.; Moreira, F.C.; Gäbler, J.; Schäfer, L.; Sáez, C.; Rodrigo, M.A.; Vilar, V.J.P.


Towards scaling up of the electrochemical production of Caro’s acid: Electrode size and/or stacking?

Castro, M.P.; Montiel, M.A.; Mena, I.F.; Gäbler, J.; Barton, D.; Sáez, C.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Remediation of soils contaminated with methomyl using electrochemically produced gaseous oxidants

da Silva, L.M.; Mena, I.F.; Sáez, C.; Motheo, A.J.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Treatment of Organics in Wastewater Using Electrogenerated Gaseous Oxidants

da Silva, L.M.; Mena, I.F.; Sáez, C.; Motheo, A.J.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Improving performance of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electro-ozonizers using 3D printing

Mena, I.F.; Montiel, M.A.; Sáez, C.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Biochar from grape pomace, a waste of vitivinicultural origin, is effective for root-knot nematode control

Martínez-Gómez, Á.; Andrés, M.F.; Barón-Sola, Á; Díaz-Manzano, F.E.; Yousef, I.; Mena, I.F.; Díaz, E.; Gómez-Torres, O.; González-Coloma, A.; Hernández, L.E.; Escobar, C.


Outstanding productions of peroxymonosulfuric acid combining tailored electrode coating and 3D printing

Castro, M.P.; Montiel, M.A.; Mena, I.F.; Gäbler, J.; King, H.; Sáez, C.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Optimization of the electrolytic production of Caro’s acid. Towards industrial production using diamond electrodes

Castro, M.P.; Mena, I.F.; Montiel, M.A.; Gäbler, J.; Schäfer, L.; Sáez, C.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Electrochemical generation of chlorine dioxide for use in environmental remediation

da Silva, L.M.; Mena, I.F.; Montiel, M.A.; Sáez, C.; Motheo, A.J.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Electrochemical generation of ozone for application in environmental remediation

da Silva, L.M.; Mena, I.F.; Montiel, M.A.; Sáez, C.; Motheo, A.J.; Rodrigo, M.A.


On the way to raising the technology readiness level of diamond electrolysis

Montiel, M.A.; Mena, I.F.; Lobato, J.; Sáez, C.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Does electro-peroxonation improve performance of electro-ozonation?

Rodríguez-Peña, M.; Mena, I.F.; Barrios Pérez, J.A.; Barrera-Díaz, C.E.; Rodrigo, M.A.


An overview of ionic liquid degradation by advanced oxidation processes

Mena, I.F.; Diaz, E.; Rodriguez, J.J.; Mohedano, A.F.


Using solar power regulation to electrochemically capture carbon dioxide: Process integration and case studies

Carvela, M.; Mena, I.F.; Lobato, J.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Towards the Electrochemical Retention of CO2: Is it Worth it?

Carvela, M.; Mena, I.F.; Raschitor, A.; Lobato, J.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Evaluation of Goethite as a Catalyst for the Thermal Stage of the Westinghouse Process for Hydrogen Production

Fernández-Marchante, C.M.; Raschitor, A.; Mena, I.F.; Rodrigo, M.A.; Lobato, J.


Adsorptive interaction of peroxymonosulfate with graphene and catalytic assessment via non-radical pathway for the removal of aqueous pharmaceuticals

Solís, R.R.; Mena, I.F.; Nadagouda, M.N.; Dionysiou, D.D.


Cation and anion effect on the biodegradability and toxicity of imidazolium– and choline–based ionic liquids

Mena, I.F.; Diaz, E.; Palomar, J.; Rodriguez, J.J.; Mohedano, A.F.


Biological oxidation of choline-based ionic liquids in sequencing batch reactors

Mena, I.F.; Diaz, E.; Rodriguez, J.J.; Mohedano, A.F.


Sono- and photoelectrocatalytic processes for the removal of ionic liquids based on the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation

Mena, I.F.; Cotillas, S.; Diaz, E.; Sáez, C.; Mohedano, A.F.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of imidazolium-based ionic liquids: Catalyst stability and biodegradability enhancement

Mena, I.F.; Diaz, E.; Pérez-Farias, C.; Stolte, S.; Moreno-Andrade, I.; Rodriguez, J.J.; Mohedano, A.F.


Assessment the ecotoxicity and inhibition of imidazolium ionic liquids by respiration inhibition assays

Diaz, E.; Monsalvo, V.M.; Lopez, J.; Mena, I.F.; Palomar, J.; Rodriguez, J.J.; Mohedano, A.F.


Stability of carbon-supported iron catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of ionic liquids

Mena, I.F.; Diaz, E.; Moreno-Andrade, I.; Rodriguez, J.J.; Mohedano, A.F.


Influence of the supporting electrolyte on the removal of ionic liquids by electrolysis with diamond anodes

Mena, I.F.; Cotillas, S.; Diaz, E.; Sáez, C.; Mohedano, A.F.; Rodrigo, M.A.


Electrolysis with diamond anodes: Eventually, there are refractory species!

Mena, I.F.; Cotillas, S.; Diaz, E.; Sáez, C.; Rodriguez, J.J.; Cañizares, P.; Mohedano, A.F.; Rodrigo, M.A.


CWPO of bisphenol A with iron catalysts supported on microporous carbons from grape seeds activation

Mena, I.F.; Diaz, E.; Rodriguez, J.J.; Mohedano, A.F.


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