Principal Investigator

Dr. Sharon Velasquez-Orta research involves the evaluation of new environmental technologies that can achieve both energy generation and waste remediation. Her group is interested in the production of renewable energy from microalgae and liquid/solid wastes using bioelectrochemical, chemical and thermal technologies.

Biofuel production from wastewater sludge and microalgae is researched using in situ transesterification and catalytic cracking. These processes offer several advantages such as the elimination of an oil extraction step, potential improvement on biofuel yield, and reduction in the transportation of intermediate products.

She also investigates the production of electricity and wastewater monitoring using Microbial Fuel Cells. This is a technology that can be used to obtain both wastewater treatment and electricity generation; or to monitor the organic matter content of wastewater.

Additionally her research also includes estimating the energy used and carbon emissions produced by current wastewater/water treatment works in the North East (UK) using a life cycle assessment.

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Current PhD Students

 

Bioelectrochemical Algal Systems

Mr Olatunde Akinbuja
Jan 2018 -current
O.O.Akinbuja2@newcastle.ac.uk

My research journey has been inclined towards sustainability. I have worked on evaluation of metal pollution in aquatic environment. Also, I have worked on production of biodiesel from wastewater sludge. Currently, my PhD research is in the production of clean electricity and useful chemicals using microorganisms.

My future research interests are in the scale up of bioelectrochemical systems.

I have been investigating the application of microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) as a biocatalyst in bioelectrochemical systems (BES). The research involves carrying out an engineering assessment to understand the role of algae as a biocatalyst in BES. Furthermore, novel microalgae biocomposite electrodes is being explored as against having algae suspensions in these systems. This novel way of using algae in BES as biological catalyst is being applied in microbial fuel cells (MFC) and microbial electrolysis cells (MEC).

Algal Wastewater Treatment Using Novel Bicultures

Mr Οbaidullah Μοhiuddin
Sept 2018 – March 2023 (Viva passed)
O.Mohiuddin2@newcastle.ac.uk

Following my bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Pakistan, I chose to pursue my postgraduate research in Sustainable Environment Energy System (SEES) from Middle East technical University Northern Cyprus to further enhance my knowledge on sustainability. Along with gaining experience in sustainability and process intensification during my master’s degree, I also demonstrated chemistry laboratory experiments to undergraduate students for three years. After completing my master’s degree, I was awarded a Newcastle Research Overseas Scholarship (NUORS) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant to pursue my PhD in “Co-culture of yeast and microalgae for the wastewater treatment”. As a part of my doctoral training, I went to the UNAM University in Mexico to learn about wastewater treatment and microorganism harvesting.

Algal Wastewater Treatment Using Novel Intensified Reactors 

Mr Sergio Serrano Blanco
Sept 2020 -current
S.Serrano-Blanco2@newcastle.ac.uk

I have always been interested in Biotechnology and Biological systems that’s why I decided to study first a BSc in Biotechnology followed by a BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a MSc in Industrial Biotechnology between Spain, Portugal and the UK. After the completion of my studies, I worked in industry for nearly three years in the diagnostics sector and then I decided to apply for the ReNU CDT PhD in Energy Materials at University of Newcastle.

I am mainly interested in microalgae as means of achieving environmentally sustainable technologies with a focus on providing solutions for wastewater treatment. As for my project, we are looking at innovative 3D-printed materials to study their effect on the amount of microalgae obtained to produce biodiesel as well as treating aquaculture wastewater. I hope this experience will provide me with the technical knowledge to pursue a career within the algal biotechnology and hopefully translate these years of hard work into a new business idea.

Research Assistants

Mrs Madina Οbaidullah

Research Assistant
Feb 2021 – Jul 2021
nmo68@newcastle.ac.uk

Mr James Brothwood

Apprentice
2021 – 2021
J.Brothwood@newcastle.ac.uk

Ms Linda Salman

Apprentice
2021 – 2021
L.Salman@newcastle.ac.uk

Alumni Students

Metal Remediation Using Microalgae

Mr James Hockaday
Sept 2016 – June 2021 (Viva Passed), Graduated :December 2021
james.hockaday@newcastle.ac.uk

I am passionate about sustainability and my research has been directed towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity. My research has taken me to Mexico where I undertook a project investigating the production of a jet-fuel alternative that was produced my microalgae that had been cultivated in municipal wastewater, and my PhD project focussed on the potential for metal uptake by microalgae.

My research has been mainly bench-scale lab based, but I have also taken the opportunity to be involved in the setup of a pilot study that investigated the use of a novel species of microalgae for the treatment of discharge from an anaerobic digestion process. This was offsite, with Northumbrian Water Ltd.

My future research interests are in the investigation of the thermodynamics associated with metal binding on microalgae, the comparison of nitrous oxide release of wastewater treatment by activated sludge and an algae process, and the modelling of microalgae growth with nutrient removal in the presence of heavy metals.

Producing chemicals from carbon dioxide using bioelectrochemical systems

Mr Tobechi Nnamdi Okoroafor
Sept 2014 – Jan 2019
T.N.Okoroafor1@newcastle.ac.uk

Economic & empirical investigation of bioelectrochemical systems for carbon dioxide utilisation

Miss Xenia Christodoulou
Sept 2012 -Nov 2016
X.Christodoulou@ncl.ac.uk

Biodiesel production from microalgae

 

Dr. Kamoru Adio Salam
Alumni PhD
Sept 2011 – Sept 2015

Masters and Visiting Students

An examination of the impact COVID-19 on pollution levels in London

Matthew Rees
MSc Clean Tech.
May-Aug 2020

Effects of COVID-19 on pollution levels in Kuwait

Soliman Khajah
MSc Clean Tech.
May-Aug 2020

Environmental and economic assessment of microalgal for soft tissue

Harry Orendi
MSc Clean Tech.
May-Aug 2020

Kinetic modelling of yeast and microalgae in wastewater treatment.

Robert Temperley
MEng in Chem.
Feb-May 2020

Investigating co-cultures to treat synthetic wastewater

Jonathan Vincent
MEng in Chem.
Feb-May 2020

Effect of operating conditions on performance in a microalgae-cathode MFCl.

Sarah Anderson
MEng in Chem.
Feb-May 2020

Performance of a novel microalgae biocomposite paper for CO2 biofixation

Alice Robinson
MEng in Chem.
Feb-May 2019

Amperometric detection of faecal contamination in water

Osei Akoto
MEng in Chem.
Feb-May 2019

Chlorella Vulgaris as a biocatalyst in MFC and microbial electrosynthesis

Theo Mayne
MEng in Chem.
Feb-May 2019

Biosorption of copper ions from aqueous solutions by viable Scenedesmous

Alex Hunt
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2018

Effect of carbonate availability, pH control on nutrient removal in microalgae

Edward Elcock
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2018

Wild yeast outperform under non-sterile heterotrophic conditions

Laura Walls
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2018

Comparing microalgae in suspension with microalgae biocomposites

Ryan Coleman
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2018

Value added chemicals from the reduction of CO2 using electrosynthesis

Luke Cronin
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2017

MFC biosensor for water monitoring

Paige Caldaralo&Ben Stammer
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2017

Wastewater treatment using microalgae in oscillatory baffled reactors

Thomas Black
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2017

Bioelectricity generation using a microalgae/MFC

Toby Ward
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2017

In situ transesterification of marine algae using a sustainable eggshell catalyst

James Cope
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2017

Production of bioethanol from carbohydrate rich Pavlova microalgae.

Matt Brockwell
MEng in Chem. Eng.
Feb-May 2017

A Study on Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in Bioelectrochemical Systems.

Miss Aswathi Kirshnakumar
MSc in Environ. Eng
May-Sept 2016

Carbon dioxide conversion to higher energy products.

Mr Tom Mealey
MSc in Environ. Eng
May-Sept 2016

Kripa Naphur Nuffield Research Placement

Miss Melina Dos Santos (Brazil)
Bioelectrochemistry Visitor
May-Sept 2016

Monitoring Groundwater Pollution using a Fuel Cell Sediment Reactor.

Mr Richard Dudbridge
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb -May, 2016

Catalytic activity of CO2 proteins from Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 cells.

Mr Zayn Khan
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb -May, 2016

Modelling and design ?of a pilot-scale bio-refinery plant.

Mr Jon Vaughan
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb -May, 2015

MFC Biosensor in-situ Detection of Organic Pollution within Groundwater.

Mr Daniel Tolley
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb -May, 2015

Silverstone enzymatic saccharification of microalgae for bioethanol.

Miss Becky
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb -May, 2015

Biodiesel production from microalgae growth using wastewater.

Mr Oladapo Komolafe
MSc in Environ. Eng
May- Sept, 2013

MFC biosensor for detecting contamination of water bodies in remote areas.

Ms Nayarid Pena Rangel
MSc in Environ. Eng
May- Sept, 2013

Evaluating the use of microalgae for biodiesel production(CEAM, Singapore)

Mr Ian-Daniel Lim Soo Yong
Mr Tan Zhen Kai
May- Sept, 2013

Biofuel production from microalgae(ENSIACET, France).

Miss Victoria Michaut
Visiting Researcher
May- Sept, 2013

Characterisation of mixed cultures of microalgae.

Miss Ivy Tavershima
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb -May, 2013

Acetate production from carbon dioxide.

Miss Hanna Whall
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb -May, 2013

Online MFC biosensor for water characterisation

Miss Rojiar Ferschy
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb -May, 2013

Development of microbial fuel cell biosensors

Mr. Joel Lim (Research Visitor)
Oct 2012 – Jan 2013
j.l.t.heng@ncl.ac.uk

Biofuel production from mixed microalgae grown using wastewater

Mr. Sebastien Koch (Research Visitor)
Oct 2012 -June 2013
sebastien.koch@ncl.ac.uk

Biodiesel production from mixed microalgae.

Mr. Peter Batty
MSc in Environ. Engr
May – Aug, 2012

Microbial fuel cell biosensor.

Xenia Christodoulou
MSc in Clean Technology
May – Aug, 2012

Development of an electrode biosensor.

Miss Sophie Cooper
BSc in Chemistry
May-Aug, 2012

Novel catalysts for biodiesel production.

Mr Ben Dannatt
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb-May, 2012

Carbon emissions and energy use for water industries.

Mr John Lyth
MEng in Chem. Eng
Feb-May, 2012

Assessing the energetic potential of sewage sludge.

Mr. Orimisan Akinbuja
MSc in Environ. Eng
May- August, 2011

Novel catalysts for biodiesel production.

Mr. Guillaume Pellegrin
MSc in Environ. Eng
May- August, 2011

Biodiesel production from microalgae.

Miss Elinor Shilling
MEng Chem. Eng
Feb-May, 2011

Catalytic cracking of microalgae.

Mr. Barnaby Baxter
MEng Chem. Eng
Feb-May, 2011

Researchers – Spacious
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