Principal investigator

Dr. Sharon Velasquez 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.

Download Dr. Sharon Velasquez-Orta curriculum vitae (Word file)

Download Dr. Sharon Velasquez-Orta list of publications (Word file)