Water Regeneration
Description and lines of research
The Water Regeneration unit focuses on the study of solar photocatalysis for the decontamination of toxic waters, as well as the removal of micropollutants and the disinfection of treated water for reuse (regeneration). It hosts the Water Regeneration Technologies Research Platform, with full-scale demonstrators.
Strategic lines
- Application of solar photo-Fenton for the decontamination of toxic waters, removal of micropollutants in treated waters, and disinfection of treated waters (regeneration)
- Water regeneration through photo-Fenton. Assisted by UV LED radiation and concentrated solar radiation
- Combination of solar photo-Fenton with membrane biological reactors (pre-and post-treatment)
- Optimization and control of the operation and development of new technologies for photo-Fenton
- Economics of water treatment processes. Main researchers José Antonio Sánchez Pérez (ORCID ID: 0000 -0001-5635-3137; Scopus Author ID: 57195586656) Full Professor. Department of Chemical Engineering. Degree in Industrial Chemistry (1988) and PhD in Chemical Sciences (1992) from the University of Granada. He has participated in 26 national and international R&D projects, leading 13 of them, as well as in a dozen contracts with companies. He has supervised 19 doctoral theses in different fields such as microalgae biotechnology, filamentous fungi fermentation, and water treatment, and is co author of four patents and over 200 scientific publications in international journals. María Inmaculada Polo López (ORCID ID: 0000 -0002-2505721X; Scopus Author ID 26032688800) Investigadora contratada de OPI. Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Plataforma Solar de Almería. Licenciada en biología por la Universidad de Granada en 2006 y Doctora en Ingeniería Química por la Universidad d e Almería (2012). Ha participado en más de 25 proyectos nacionales e internacionales de I+D, liderando actualmente 2 de ellos. Ha dirigido/co-dirigido tres tesis doctorales y dirige/co-dirige actualmente otras cinco tesis doctorales en curso en el ámbito d el tratamiento solar de aguas y reutilización. Autora y co-autora de más de 110 publicaciones en revistas internacionales con alto índice de impacto, autora de 1 libro y co-autora de otros 20 capítulos de libros. Resumen de la actividad desarrollada en CIESOL durante 2025 Durante 2025, se ha trabajado en un total de 17 proyectos. Los proyectos Phoenix, Integrasol, Nereidas y Recorawa finalizaron exitosamente en los primeros meses del año. Colaboración con otros Grupos de Investigación de CIESOL durante 2025 María Inmaculada Polo López (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2505-721X; Scopus Author ID: 26032688800) Contracted Researcher at a Public Research Organization (OPI). Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT), Plataforma Solar de Almería. Degree in Biology from the University of Granada in 2006 and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Almería (2012). She has participated in more than 25 national and international R&D projects, currently leading 2 of them. She has supervised/co-supervised three doctoral theses and is currently supervising/co-supervising another five ong oing doctoral theses in the field of solar water treatment and reuse. Author and co-author of over 110 publications in high-impact international journals, author of 1 book, and co-author of another 20 book chapters. Summary of the activity carried out at CIESOL during 2025 During 2025, work was carried out on the 17 ongoing projects. The Phoenix, Integrasol, Nereidas and Recorawa projects were successfully completed in the first months of the year. Collaboration with other Functional Units of CIESOL during 2025 Actividad Activity Organometálica Y Fotoquímica Organometallics and Photochemistry Análisis Ambiental Environmental Analysis Artículos Papers 10 Proyectos Projects 6 Regeneración de Aguas Water Regeneration Modelado y Control Modelling and Control Recursos Solares y Frío Solar Solar Resources and Solar Cooling
Principal investigators
ORCID: 0000-0003-2142-9175 · Scopus Author ID: 58622341800. Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Almería (1998) and PhD in Chemistry from the same university (2004), recognised with the Extraordinary PhD Award (2004). Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Almería since 2022. Director of the Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL) since 2022 and member, since its foundation, of the research group "Bioprocess Engineering and Water Technologies (BIO-263)" affiliated with the centre. Since 2022, he has been a member of the Advisory Board of the Aqualia Chair on the Integrated Water Cycle. In 2007 he was a visiting researcher under the José Castillejo Programme at the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath (United Kingdom). He has participated in 27 research projects funded through regional, national, and European competitive calls, mainly focused on water treatment technologies, serving as principal investigator in eight of them (three European, two national, and three regional). He has also participated in 14 research contracts with companies, coordinating five of them. Since 2006, he has supervised seven PhD theses in areas including filamentous fungi biotechnology (2), the application of CFD to solar oven design (1), and solar photo-Fenton processes for water treatment (4). According to Web of Science, he has published 90 papers, which have received 2,860 citations (h-index: 31). In Scopus, he has 86 publications with 3,203 citations (h-index: 33).
ORCID ID = 0000-0002-9893-6207 Scopus Author 8415190600 Es responsable de la Unidad de Tratamientos Solares del Agua de la Plataforma Solar de Almería (CIEMAT), Ingeniera Química por la Universidad de Granada (2002) y Doctora por la Universidad de Almería (2008). Cuenta con más de 18 años de experiencia en el campo de la descontaminación y regeneración de aguas residuales industriales y urbanas mediante procesos avanzados de oxidación y su combinación con sistemas físico-químicos de pre-tratamiento, así como con tratamientos biológicos avanzados. La Dr. Isabel Oller ha desarrollado esta actividad a través de su participación en diversos Proyectos de I+D nacionales y europeos (5th, 6th & 7th EU FP, H2020, HE). Dentro de su producción científica cabe destacar que es autora y co-autora de 4 libros en Editorial Nacional y co-autora de 18 capítulos de libros de Editorial Internacional. Además, es co-autora de 165 publicaciones en revistas científicas internacionales con índice de impacto y más de 180 contribuciones a Congresos y Simposios internacionales hasta la fecha (abril 2023). Además, ha participado como profesora en cursos nacionales e internacionales relacionados con el Tratamiento Avanzado de Aguas Residuales. H-index (abril 2023): 46.