Maria Angeles Sanromán

• Professor
• University of Vigo

This work designed an innovative polypyrrole/zinc cobaltite spinel oxide (Ppy@ZnCo₂O₄) nanocomposite useful as competitive adsorbent for the elimination of Cr(VI) from wastewater. Assorted analytical approaches were implemented to explore the Ppy@ZnCo₂O₄ structure and morphological aspects. The batch experiments for process optimization through the...

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Adsorption Pharmaceuticals Peroxymonosulfate Regeneration Reuses Pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments pose significant environmental and public health risks. This pioneering study introduces a novel approach to removing fluoxetine (FLX) through adsorption onto Tunisian purified clay (PC), while exploring an innov...

The electro-Fenton process has the potential to be an efficient effluent treatment method, contingent on effective process optimization. It relies on two critical components: efficient in-situ H2O2 generation and the integration of highly reactive heterogeneous catalysts into electrode synthesis. In this study, several cathodic electrodes were synt...

In this study, several materials are presented as modifiers of the screen-printed carbon electrodes with the aim of developing new sensing platforms for the voltammetric analysis of drugs. Specifically, Clotiapine and Sulfamethoxazole were selected as models for antipsychotics and antibiotics, respectively. Different nanostructures were studied as...

Novel zinc-doped Metal-Organic Framework based on MIL53(Fe) (Zn-MIL53(Fe)) has been successfully synthesised in one-step, exhibiting dual applications as adsorbent and catalyst. Initially, the adsorption capacity of MIL53(Fe) and Zn-MIL53(Fe) for removing Rhodamine B was assessed through kinetic and isotherm studies. The bimetallic variant exhibite...

Over the past few decades, peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have garnered substantial interest in the field of organic decontamination. The copper (Cu)/PMS system is intriguing due to its diverse activation pathways and has been extensively employed for the clearance of refractory organic pollutants in water. This...

Materials based on polymer hydrogels have demonstrated potential as innovative Fenton catalysts for treating water. However, developing these polymer-supported catalysts with robust stability presents a significant challenge. This paper explores the development and application of polymer-supported heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for the environmenta...

This study addresses the growing environmental and health concern associated with pharmaceutical compounds detected in wastewater by employing an innovative and environmentally friendly approach. Polyphenol reducing agents were extracted from palm petiole (PP) using a coffee marker to synthesize zero-valent iron nanoparticles (P-NZVI) in an environ...

Nowadays, energy conversion and storage technologies are essential research topics due to the necessity of more sustainable processes. Specifically, water splitting is highly affected by slow kinetics and limited knowledge of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This work envisages the preparation of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) electrocatalys...

This comprehensive review explores recent advancements in immobilization strategies for graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a metal-free photocatalyst that has gained significant attention for its optical and physicochemical properties comparable to traditional photocatalysts like TiO2. However, a critical challenge regarding their application has e...

New porous materials, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), have been actively investigated due to their environmental applications. In this study, four of such structured materials, namely Fe3O4 @COF, MIL-53(Al), MIL-53(Al)-F127 and NH2-MIL-101(Fe) were synthetized. These materials have been tested for the...

A series of bimetallic of FeCu metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been synthesised using a solvothermal process by varying the ratio between the two metals. Further, the bimetallic MOF catalysts were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy techniques. Their catalytic properties for activa...

Agri-food residues or by-products have increased their contribution to the global tally of unsustainably generated waste. These residues, characterized by their inherent physicochemical properties and rich in lignocellulosic composition, are progressively being recognized as valuable products that align with the principles of zero waste and circula...

In recent years, the presence of pathogens in the environment has become an issue of widespread concern in society. Thus, new research lines have been developed regarding the removal of pathogens and persistent pollutants in water. In this research, the efficacy of nanostructure copper-organic framework, HKUST-1, has been evaluated for its ability...

In recent years, heterogeneous electro-Fenton processes have gained considerable attention as an alternative to homogeneous processes. In this context, the aim of this study is the use of a commercial iron metal-organic framework (Fe-MOF), Basolite® F-300, as a base material for the design of a heterogeneous electro-Fenton treatment system for the...

In line with the principles of zero waste and recycling, alperujo (AL) was used in this study to produce a value-added product: hydrochar (HC) with high adsorption capacity. An optimization of the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) conditions, such as temperature, residence time, and water/solid ratio, was carried out to maximize the adsorption capac...

Bifunctional perovskite/carbon-black(CB)/polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) electrodes for electro-generation and catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to oxidizing hydroxyl radicals have been fabricated. These electrodes were tested for electroFenton (EF) removal of antipyrine (ANT) as a model antipyretic and analgesic drug. The influence of the...

In this study, three CuFe-MOFs were successfully synthesized by a solvothermal process by changing the ratio of solvents, salts, or temperature. These MOFs named CuFe(BDC-NH2)R, CuFe(BDC-NH2)S, and CuFe(BDC-NH2)D showed rod-shaped, spindle-like, and diamond-like structures, respectively. The CuFe(BDC-NH2)D and CuFe(BDC-NH2)S were found to exhibit a...

The development of novel approaches to the remotion of pharmaceuticals in wastewater is a subject of concern due to their effect on living beings and the environment. Advanced oxidation processes and the use of relevant catalysts are feasible treatment alternatives that require further development. The development of suitable heterogeneous catalyst...

Laccase from Myceliophthora thermophila was immobilized using one-point and multi-point covalent attachment on both a native and a modified new commercial epoxy carrier (Immobead 150P). After 10 cycles of operation at pH 3.0 and temperature 70 °C, the multi-point covalently immobilized laccase on the modified Immobead 150P performed best in terms o...

Photodegradation of plastic in solid-phase requires the polymer to be composited with an efficient photocatalyst. We report herein the successful synthesis and characterization of fluoride-doped-TiO2 and its applicability, for the first time, on solid-phase photodegradation of polyethylene films. Nearly half weight loss of polyethylene, containing...

Heterogeneous photo-electro-Fenton process is an attractive technology for the removal of recalcitrant pollutants. To better exploit the presence of an irradiation source, a bifunctional catalyst with TiO2 nanoparticles embedded into an iron–chitosan matrix was developed. The catalytic activity of the catalyst was improved by the optimization of th...

An expanding number of human activities are contributing to the rising levels of aromatic compounds, which pose a major threat to the ecosystem. However, readily available microbial enzymes might be used to remediate contaminated wastewater in an economical and environmentally benign manner. In this study, an efficient method of laccase-oriented im...

Fluoride-doped TiO2 (F-TiO2) was synthesized by an efficient and simple one-step synthesis and successfully used for the UV-photo-degradation of the toxic and stable pollutants methylene blue (MB) and bisphenol A (BPA). Initially, the synthesized catalyst was characterized and compared to untreated TiO2 (P25 Degussa) by different physical–chemical...

The synthesis and characterization of novel graphene oxide coupled to TiO2 (GO-TiO2) was carried out in order to better understand the performance of this photocatalyst, when compared to well-known TiO2 (P25) from Degussa. Thus, its physical-chemical characterization (FTIR, XRD, N2 isotherms and electrochemical measurements) describes high porosity...

The removal of ionisable drugs (fluoxetine, sulfamethizole and antipyrine) from aqueous solution was performed by conventional adsorption using carbonaceous aerogel pellets as adsorbents. Although more than 96% elimination was achieved for sulfamethizole and antipyrine after 1440 min, only 2.5% fluoxetine was removed. In a multicomponent system, th...

The removal of Diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is of great importance due to their potential adverse effects on the environment and human health. In this study, two bionanocomposites prepared by immobilization of Bacillus subtilis esterase by crosslinking to halloysite and supported in chitosan and alginate beads were stu...

Disinfection is an essential and significant process for water treatment to protect the environment and human beings from pathogenic infections. In this study, disinfection through the generation of hydroxyl (Fenton process (FP)) and sulfate (Fenton-like process (FLP)) radicals was validated and optimized. The optimization was carried out in synthe...

Nowadays, the contamination of wastewater by organic persistent pollutants is a reality. These pollutants are difficult to remove from wastewater with conventional techniques; hence, it is necessary to go on the hunt for new, innovative and environmentally sustainable ones. In this context, advanced oxidation processes have attracted great attentio...

Adsorption process has proven its efficiency in the abatement of pharmaceuticals in liquid media, even if large volumes of wastewater need to be treated. Nevertheless, exhausted adsorbent regeneration is economically and environmentally necessary. For this reason, recent studies are aimed at finding new methods of regeneration. In this study, an on...

In this study, the removal of persistent emerging and dangerous pollutants (pharmaceuticals and pathogens) in synthetic wastewater was evaluated by the application of heterogeneous Advanced Oxidation Processes. To do that, a Metal-Organic Framework (MOF), Basolite® F-300 was selected as a catalyst and combined with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as oxidan...

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing Mg:Al (molar ratio 3:1) were synthesised by co-precipitation from nitrate salts under alkaline conditions. Their further characterisation by different techniques allowed the determination of their structural, nanotextural and chemical properties. XRD measurements confirmed the high crystallisation with th...

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) harm ecosystems and human health. The focus is now being put on regulating discharges at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Stressful and lonely lifestyles, accentuated by the COVID-19 outbreak, have led to an increase in the consumption of antidepressants, particularly in the form of Fluoxetine...

Nowadays, water pollution is one of the most dangerous environmental problems in the world. The presence of the so-called emerging pollutants in the different water bodies, impossible to eliminate through conventional biological and physical treatments used in wastewater treatment plants due to their persistent and recalcitrant nature, means that p...

Three carbon materials from a varied origin, composition and porosity have been used as cost-effective cathodes in different electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (i.e. anodic oxidation (AO) and electro-Fenton (EF) in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis modalities) for the degradation of an antibiotic (e.g., metronidazole). In general, t...

Contaminants of emerging concern including pharmaceuticals and personal care products are increasingly detected at low concentrations in surface waters. Given the associated toxicity of these compounds, there is the potential for significant impacts on aquatic life and the food chain. Since most pharmaceuticals are not biodegradable, they cannot be...

Water quality is essential to both human and ecosystem health, and a fast detection of emerging pollutants is claimed, along with effective wastewater treatment plants to eliminate these types of substances. The goal of this study was the development of a sensitive and selective methodology to customize a handle device that meets this demand. Cloza...

A high-performance hydrochar was prepared for the first time from a relatively abundant solid biomass waste, loquat cores, by hydrothermal treatment. The ecofriendly modifying agent, citric acid (C6H8O7), was used and compared with well know acids such as H3PO4 and HCl. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the hydrothermal treatment assisted,...

Soil pollution has become a substantial environmental problem which is amplified by overpopulation in different regions. In this review, the state of the art regarding the use of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for soil remediation is presented. This review aims to provide an outline of recent technologies developed for the decontamination of p...

Extremophiles are fascinating microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme habitats under very high (55 to 121°C) or low (−2 to 20°C) temperatures, alkalinity (pH > 8) and acidity (pH < 4), low humidity, or high salt concentrations (2–5M NaCl or KCl), pressure (>500 atm), or ionizing radiation levels. In this context, the produced enzymes by thes...

Featured Application Heterogeneous electro-Fenton-like processes based on catalyst and electrocatalyst using transition metals for 2-phenylphenol degradation. Abstract The hunt for efficient and environmentally friendly degradation processes has positioned the heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes as an alternative more interesting and econom...

In this study, the adsorption of a multicomponent mixture of active pharmaceutical compounds, such as Venlafaxine (VLX), Trazadone (TRZ) and Fluoxetine (FLX), was studied in a biochar fixed-bed column. The selection of appropriate biochar (eucalyptus, grapevine cane and holm tree biochar) as an adsorbent was carried out through batch assays. An ins...

In this research, a bench-scale installation was tested for the heterogeneous electro-Fenton treatment of clofibric acid. The setup consists of a pressurized flow-through electrochemical cell equipped with a catalyst fluidized-bed and aerated with a jet mixer. The novelty of the research is two-fold: the use of the pressurized-jet aerator on an ele...

In this study, we cross-linked aminated Thermothelomyces thermophilus laccase onto Immobead 150P epoxy carrier, and achieved an immobilization yield of 99.84 %. The optimum temperature and pH values for the oxidation of ABTS by laccase were determined to be 70 °C and pH 3.0. After 6 h at 50 °C, laccase activity was diminished by about 13 % in the f...

Soil pollution poses threat to the environment due to persistence of pollutants, which are strongly sorbed and thus difficult to remove. The treatment processes based on the Fenton reaction, generate a powerful oxidant, the hydroxyl radical, by catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. This reaction can be carried out in polluted soils by injec...

With the aim of bringing the heterogeneous electro-Fenton (EF) treatment one step closer to a more realistic operation, the scaling-up of that technology was evaluated. Assays were performed firstly at lab scale in a stirred-tank reactor and then at bench scale in a flow setup including a jet aerator and a microfluidic flow-through electrochemical...

In this study, adsorption of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as Diclofenac (DCF) on a commercial carbonaceous aerogel honeycomb monolith (NANOLIT®-NQ40) was ascertained. Based on, the overall design of an adsorption treatment should include a feasible regeneration process for the spent adsorbent. In this work, the adsorption/desorption...

In the present research, an eco-approach for the removal of pharmaceuticals from aqueous environment was developed under de principles of circular economy. Therefore, an eco-friendly adsorbent, biochar, was synthesized by the thermochemical valorisation of rice production waste. The rice bran was pyrolyzed at different temperatures (300–750°C) and...

The appearance of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environments has become a serious problem because of their hazardous effect on the biota. Therefore, great efforts are focussed in the removal to these pollutants from wastewaters. In this study, an innovative technology based on the principles of Zero-Waste for the management of wastewater streams i...

A simple protocol was proposed for the preparation of magnetic chitosan beads ZnFe2O4-CS via a co-precipitation method. The use of synthesized magnetic ZnFe2O4-CS beads as catalyst for the heterogeneous photo-Fenton treatment of chlordimeform insecticide (CDM) was evaluated. The photo-Fenton experiments were carried out with different synthesized c...

Several pesticides and pharmaceuticals (PP) have been detected in the effluent of a full-scale Portuguese Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Their presence contributed to the environmental burdens associated with the existing treatment of the Municipal Wastewater (MWW) in the impact categories of Human Carcinogenicity, Non-Carcinogenicity, and Fres...

This study proposed an integrated valorisation system, by combining adsorption and electro-Fenton processes for fast and effective micropollutant remediation of a complex pharmaceutical mixture. The pharmaceuticals venlafaxine, fluoxetine and trazodone, commonly detected in the environment (river water and sediment), were selected in this study as...

In this present study, an abundant, available lignocellulosic biomass, sunflower seed shells, SSS, was used as a precursor to prepare an effective eco-adsorbent by treatment with H2SO4. A study of the surface characteristics of raw and acid-treated SSS (ACS) has shown that the addition of H2SO4 greatly affected the physicochemical properties of the...

Overall, investigations about the utilization of electrokinetic technology alone or in combination with other processes have attracted particular attention in recent years for the remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic compounds. This fact is due to its peculiar benefits together with its capability of operating in a fine a...

The presence of pharmaceutical products in the water cycle may cause harmful effects such as morphological, metabolic and sex alterations in aquatic organisms and the selection/development of organisms resistant to antimicrobial agents. The compounds’ stability and persistent character hinder their elimination by conventional physico-chemical and b...

Water soluble dyes are still causing an environmental issue due to the inefficient treatment of wastewaters of dyeing industries. Those dyes have common characteristics which are threatening the environment such as high stability, toxicity, and colourfulness. Intense research has been done on the degradation of these discharges, focusing on photode...

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a facile, low-cost and eco-friendly thermal conversion process that has recently gained attention with a growing number of publications (lower 50 in 2000 to over 1500 in 2020). Despite being a promising technology, problems such as operational barriers, complex reaction mechanisms and scaling have to be solved to...

In this age, a key target for enhancing the competitiveness of the chemical, environmental and biotechnology industries is to manufacture high-value products more efficiently and especially with significantly reduced environmental impact. Under this premise, the conversion of biomass waste to a high-value added product, biochar, is an interesting a...

This research proposes the application of iron-loaded sepiolite (S-Fe) as a catalytic adsorbent for the unreported 1-butylpyridinium chloride ([bpy] Cl) treatment in an aqueous medium. Initially, sepiolite was selected as an inexpensive and efficacious adsorbent for [bpy] Cl elimination. After that, sepiolite was loaded with iron for the subsequent...