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  3. Gabriel Morales
Gabriel Morales (05/20/1977) obtained his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Chemical Engineering at Universidad Complutense de Madrid (1995-2000) and received his Ph.D. in 2005 (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos) working on the synthesis and characterization of sulfonic acid-functionalized mesostructured materials. He has occupied several teaching positions in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, starting in 2000 as teaching assistant, becoming assistant professor in 2005 and associate professor since 2008. He has been visiting researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering in the University of California at Santa Barbara (USA) in 2004 and 2006 under the supervision of Prof. Brad F. Chmelka; at the Department of Applied Chemistry in the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, UK) under the supervision of Prof. Peter Cormack. His main research lines are focused on the synthesis, characterization and catalytic application of organically-functionalized mesostructured materials, enzyme immobilization on silica mesoporous supports, valorization of glycerol to obtain oxygenated additives for fuel blendings, and more recently the production of biodiesel over heterogeneous acid catalysts.
  • Synergetic integration of BIOtechnology and thermochemical CaTalysis for the cAscade coNvErsion of organic waste to jet-fuel (BIOCTANE)

    Funding : European Commission (GA 101084336)
    Start / End Years : 2022 - 2026
    Principal Investigator : Melero Hernández, Juan Antonio y Morales Sánchez, Gabriel
    Research Team : - Leo Llorente, Pedro - Melero Hernández, Juan Antonio - Morales Sánchez, Gabriel - Paniagua Martín, Marta - Ventura Sanchez-Hornero, María 

      Show summary: The reduction of GHG emissions according to the Paris Agreement is particularly challenging regarding the production of “green” liquid fuels with a high energy density for the aviation sector (drop-in biokerosene). In this context, the BIOCTANE project aims to develop and optimize an innovative process for the conversion of organic waste materials naturally characterized by a high-water content (e.g. food-waste, organic material from the food processing industry) into carbon-neutral market-ready drop-in jet-fuels. In particular, BIOCTANE project will develop a proof of concept on the synergetic coupling of biotechnological and thermocatalytic processing routes by a disruptive and interdisciplinary strategy that will result in an efficient valorization of the organic wastes into renewable jet-fuel, maximizing the recovery of chemical energy, nutrients and carbon use. First, the complex organic waste will be converted into platform molecules (acetoin and 2,3-butanediol) by creating a breakthrough link between biotechnological processing of biowaste and hydrothermal gasification technology. Subsequently, a novel one-pot chemical process will be developed by the combination of different catalytic steps through which the platform molecules are converted to jet-fuel range hydrocarbons. Based on an extensive process flow modelling, the process efficiency and the technoeconomic requirements for full market integration as well as the environmental impact will be assessed. Best environmental performance, including recovering nutrients for reuse will be aimed for throughout the process development. Therefore, BIOCTANE will establish a novel pathway involving hybrid processes and multifunctional catalysts, contributing to implement sustainable, secure and competitive renewable energy technologies in Europe, boosting the use of advanced biofuels and with a direct impact on strategic areas like aviation transport






Sulfonic mesostructured SBA-15 silicas for the Solvent-Free production of Bio-Jet fuel precursors via aldol dimerization of levulinic acid

Paniagua, M.; Cuevas, F.; Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.

Understanding the role of Al/Zr ratio in Zr-Al-Beta zeolite: Towards the onepot production of GVL from glucose.

Paniagua, M.; Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Iglesias, J.; López-Aguado, C.; Vidal, N.; Mariscal, R.; López-Granados, M.; Martínez-Salazar, I.

Production of sorbitol via catalytic transfer hydrogenation of glucose

García, B.; Moreno, J.; Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Iglesias, J.

Comparative life cycle assessment of glucose production from maize starch and woody biomass residues as a feedstock

Blanco, J.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Moreno, J.

Glycerol valorization: conversion to lactic acid by heterogeneous catalysis and separation by ion exchange chromatography

Arcanjo, M. R. A.; da Silva Jr, I. J.; Cavalcante Jr, C. L.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, J.; Paniagua, M.; Melero, J. A.; Vieira, R. S.

Oxidation of lignocellulosic platform molecules to value-added chemicals using heterogeneous catalytic technologies

Arias, P. L.; Cecilia, J. A.; Gandarias, I.; Iglesias, J.; López Granados, M.; Mariscal, R.; Morales, G.; Moreno-Tost, R.; Maireles-Torres, P.

Sustainable catalytic conversion of biomass for the production of biofuels and bioproducts

Morales, G.; Iglesias, J.; Melero, J. A.

Stable continuous production of -Valerolactone frombiomass-derived Levulinic Acid over Zr–Al-Beta zeolite catalyst

López-Aguado, C.; Paniagua, M.; Melero, J. A.; Iglesias, J.; Juárez, P.; López Granados, M.; Morales, G.

Life-cycle sustainability of biomass-derived sorbitol: Proposing technological alternatives for improving the environmental profile of a bio-refinery platform molecule

Moreno, J.; Iglesias, J.; Blanco, J.; Montero, M.; Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.

Ru-ZrO2-SBA-15 as efficient and robust catalyst for the aqueous phase hydrogenation of glucose to sorbitol

Melero, J. A.; Moreno, J.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.; Fierro, J. L. G.; Sánchez-Vázquez, R.; Cubo, A.; García, B.

Sn–Al-USY for the valorization of glucose to methyl lactate: switching from hydrolytic to retro-aldol activity by alkaline ion exchange

Iglesias, J.; Moreno, J.; Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Juárez, P.; López-Granados, M.; Mariscal, R.; Martínez-Salazar, I.

From levulinic acid biorefineries to ?-valerolactone (GVL) using a bi-functional Zr-Al- Beta catalyst

Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Iglesias, J.; Paniagua, M.; López-Aguado, C.

Transformation of Glucose into Sorbitol on Raney Nickel catalysts in the absence of molecular hydrogen: Sugar disproportionation vs catalytic hydrogen transfer

García, B.; Moreno, J.; Iglesias, J.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.

Rational Optimization of Reaction Conditions for the One-Pot Transformation of Furfural to ?-Valerolactone over Zr–Al-Beta Zeolite: Toward the Efficient Utilization of Biomass

Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.; Iglesias, J.; Paniagua, M.; López-Aguado, C.

Transformation of glucose into sorbitol on Raney nickel catalysts in the absence of molecular hydrogen: sugar disproportionation vs catalytic hydrogen transfer

García, B.; Moreno, J.; Iglesias, J.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.

Zr-USY zeolite: Efficient catalyst for the transformation of xylose into bio-products

López-Aguado, C.; Paniagua, M.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.; García-Fierro, J. L.; Melero, J. A.

ZrO2-SBA-15 catalysts for the one-pot cascade synthesis of GVL from furfural

Iglesias, J.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; Hernández, B.; Osatiashtiani, A.; Lee, A. F.; Wilson, K.

Progress in the design of zeolite catalysts for biomass conversion into biofuels and bio-based chemicals

Serrano, D.P.; Melero, J.A.; Morales, G.; Iglesias, J. ; Pizarro, P.

ß-galactosidase covalent immobilization over large-pore mesoporous silica supports for the production of high galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)

González-Delgado, I.; Segura, Y.; Martín, A.; López-Muñoz, M. J.; Morales, G.

Isosorbide production from sorbitol over heterogeneous acid catalysts: Screening and kinetic study

Morales, G.; Iglesias, J.; Melero, J. A.; Moreno, J.; Sánchez-Vázquez, R.; Peral, A.; Cubo, A.

Efficient production of 5-ethoxymethylfurfural from fructose by sulfonic mesostructured silica using DMSO as co-solvent

Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; Melero, J. A.; Iglesias, J.

Dehydration of sorbitol to isosorbide in melted phase with propyl-sulfonic functionalized SBA-15: Influence of catalyst hydrophobization

Cubo, A.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Moreno, J.; Sánchez-Vázquez, R.

Efficient one-pot production of ?-valerolactone from xylose over Zr-Al-Beta zeolite: rational optimization of catalyst synthesis and reaction conditions

Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.; Iglesias, J.; Paniagua, M.; López-Aguado, C.; Wilson, K.; Osatiashtiani, A.

Characterization and inmobilization of engineered sialidases from Trypanosoma rangeli for transsiallylation

Zeuner, B.; González-Delgado, I.; Holck, J.; Morales, G.; López-Muñoz, M. J.; Segura, Y.; Meyer, A. S.; Mikkelsen, J. D.

Catalytic upgrading of furfuryl alcohol to bio-products: Catalysts screening and kinetic analysis

Paniagua, M.; Melero, J. A.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.; Hernández, B.; López-Aguado, C.

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.

Optimisation of the synthesis of high galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) from lactose with b-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis

González-Delgado, I.; López-Muñoz, M. J.; Morales, G.; Segura, Y.

Dehydration of Xylose to Furfural in alcohol media in the presence of solid acid catalysts

Iglesias, J.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; Hernández, B.

One-pot cascade transformation of xylose into ?-valerolactone (GVL) over bifunctional Brønsted–Lewis Zr–Al-beta zeolite

Hernández, B.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; López-Aguado, C.; García Fierro, J. L.; Wolf, P.; Hermans, I.; Melero, J. A.

Efficient production of Triacetin from Glycerol over Arenesulfonic acid-modified SBA-15 catalyst

Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; Melero, J. A.; Vicente, G.

Acid-catalyzed production of biodiesel over arenesulfonic SBA-15: Insights into the role of water in the reaction network

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

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by laccase from Trametes versicolor covalently immobilized on amino-functionalized SBA-15

Bautista, L. F.; Morales, G.; Sanz, R.

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.

Hydrothermally stable, conformal, sulfated zirconia monolayer catalysts for glucose conversion to 5-HMF

Osatiashtiani, A.; Lee, A. F.; Granollers, M.; Brown, R. D.; Olivi, L.; Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Wilson, K.

Zr-SBA-15 Lewis acid catalyst: Activity in Meerwein Ponndorf Verley reduction

Iglesias, J.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.; Moreno, J.; Segura, Y.; Paniagua, M.; Cambra, A.; Hernández, B.

New insights in the deactivation of sulfonic modified SBA-15 catalysts for biodiesel production from low-grade oleaginous feedstock

Melero, J. A.; Bautista, L. F.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.; Sánchez-Vázquez, R.; Wilson, K.; Lee, A.

Conformal sulfated zirconia monolayer catalysts for the one-pot synthesis of ethyl levulinate from glucose

Morales, G.; Osatiashtiani, A.; Hernández, B.; Iglesias, J.; Melero, J. A.; Paniagua, M.; Brown, D. R.; Granollers, M.; Lee, A. F.; Wilson, K.

Continuous production of biodiesel from low grade feedstock in presence of Zr-SBA-15: Catalyst performance and resistance against deactivation

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

Advanced biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass

Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Iglesias, J.; Paniagua, M.

Sulfonic acid heterogeneous catalysts for dehydration of C6-monosaccharides to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in dimethyl sulfoxide

Morales, G.; Melero, J. A.; Paniagua, M.; Iglesias, J.; Hernández, B.; Sanz, M.

Bifunctional SO4/ZrO2 catalysts for 5-hydroxymethylfufural (5-HMF) production from glucose

Osatiashtiani, A.; Lee, A. F.; Brown, D. R.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.; Wilson, K.

Efficient conversion of levulinic acid into alkyl levulinates catalyzed by sulfonic mesostructured silicas

Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.; Iglesias, J.; Paniagua, M.; Hernández, B.; Penedo, S.

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

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

Production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil in a continuous packed bed reactor with an agglomerated Zr-SBA-15/bentonite catalyst

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

Zr-SBA-15 acid catalyst: Optimization of the synthesis and reaction conditions for biodiesel production from low-grade oils and fats

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

Sulfonic Acid-Functionalized Catalysts for the Valorization of Glycerol via Transesterification with Methyl Acetate

Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; Melero, J. A.; Vicente, G.; Ochoa, C.

Synthesis of hierarchical ZSM-5 by silanization and alkoxylation of protozeolitic units

Serrano, D. P.; Aguado, J.; Escola, J. M.; Peral, A.; Morales, G.; Abella, E.

Low-grade oils and fats: effect of several impurities on biodiesel production over sulfonic acid heterogeneous catalysts

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

Etherification of biodiesel-derived glycerol with ethanol for fuel formulation over sulfonic modified catalysts

Melero, J. A.; Vicente, G.; Paniagua, M.; Morales, G.; Muñoz, P.

Acetalisation of bio-glycerol with acetone to produce solketal over sulfonic mesostructured silicas

Vicente, G.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; Martín E.

Oxygenated compounds derived from glycerol for biodiesel formulation: Influence on EN 14214 quality parameters

Melero, J. A.; Vicente G.; Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; Bustamante, J.

Sulfonated polystyrene-modified mesoporous organosilicas for acid-catalyzed processes

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

Biodiesel production from crude palm oil using sulfonic acid-modified mesostructured catalysts

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

Biodiesel production over arenesulfonic acid-modified mesostructured catalysts: Optimization of reaction parameters using response surface methodology

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

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.

Immobilization strategies for laccase from Trametes versicolor on mesostructured silica materials and the application to the degradation of naphthalene

Bautista, L. F.; Morales, G.; Sanz, R. Morales, Gabriel Bautista, L. F.; Morales, G.; Sanz, R.

Heterogeneous acid catalysts for biodiesel production: current status and future challenges

Melero, J. A.; Iglesias, J.; Morales, G.

Molecular and meso- and macroscopic properties of hierarchical nanocrystalline ZSM-5 zeolite prepared by seed silanization

Serrano, D. P.; Aguado, J.; Morales, G.; Rodríguez, J. M.; Peral, A.; Thommes, M.; Epping, J. D.; Chmelka, B. F.

Biodiesel production with heterogeneous sulfonic acid-functionalized mesostructured catalysts

Melero, J. A.; Bautista, L. F.; Morales, G.; Iglesias, J.; Briones, D.

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

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

Aqueous-sensitive reaction sites in sulfonic acid-functionalized mesoporous silicas

Morales, G.; Athens, G.; Chmelka, B. F.; van Grieken, R.; Melero, J. A.

Acid-catalyzed etherification of bio-glycerol and isobutylene over sulfonic mesostructured silicas

Melero, J. A.; Vicente, G.; Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.; Moreno, J. M.; Roldán, R.; Ezquerro, A.; Pérez, C.

Polystyrene modified hybrid materials based on ordered mesoporous silica

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

Acidic mesoporous silica for the acetylation of glycerol: Synthesis of bioadditives to petrol fuel

Melero, J. A.; van Grieken, R.; Morales, G.; Paniagua, M.

  • Energy & Fuels, 21, 1782-1791 (2007)
Advances in the synthesis and catalytic applications of organosulfonic functionalized mesostructured materials.

Melero, J. A.; van Grieken, R.; Morales, G.

  • Chemical Reviews, 106, 3790-3812. (2006)
Etherification of benzyl alcohols with 1-hexanol over organosulfonic acid mesostructured materials

van Grieken, R.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.

Fries rearrangement of phenyl acetate over sulfonic modified mesostructured SBA-15 materials

van Grieken, R.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.

Tailoring the pore size of hexagonally ordered mesoporous materials containing acid sulfonic groups

van Grieken, R.; Melero, J. A.; Morales, G.

Direct synthesis approach for the preparation of arylsulfonic functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous materials

Melero, J.A.; Margolese, D.; van Grieken, R.; Stucky, G.D.; Morales, G.

  • 2nd International FEZAConference.Giardini-Naxos (Italia), Septiembre 2002. Oral session (2002)
Mechanism of CIT-6 and VPI-8 Crystallization from Zincosilicate Gels

Serrano, D. P.; van Grieken, R.; Davis, M. E.; Melero, J. A.; García, A.; Morales, G.

  • Chem. Eur. J. (2002)
Direct synthesis of ordered SBA-15 mesoporous materials containing arylsulfonic groups

Melero, J.A.; Stucky, G.D.; van Grieken, R.; Morales, G.

  • Journal of Materials Chemistry, 12, 1664-1669 (2002)
Study of the different stages involving the crystallization of CIT-6 and VPI-8 from Zn-containing materials

Melero, J.A.; Serrano, D.P.; van Grieken, R.; Davis, M.E.; Morales, G.; García, A.

  • 1st International FEZA Conference.Eger (Hungra), Septiembre 1999. Poster session (1999)
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