On 1 December, Javier Sáez de Guinoa Sentre successfully defended his doctoral thesis titled “CO₂ Capture Using Calcium Looping Configurations Applied in the Alumina Industry: Study of Conventional Bayer Process and Alternative Routes for Zero Bauxite Residue.” and supervised by Prof. Luis Miguel Romeo Giménez and Prof. Eva María Llera Sastresa. The defense took place at 10:00 a.m. in the Sala de Juntas of the Betancourt Building in Campus Río Ebro.
The examination committee was composed of Dr. Ramón Murillo Villuendas from ICB-CSIC, Dr. María Pilar Lisbona Martín from the Universidad de Zaragoza, and Dr. Efthymios Balomenos from the National Technical University of Athens, who unanimously awarded the thesis the highest distinction: “Sobresaliente cum laude”.
Javier’s research explores pathways for sustainable aluminium production through decarbonization mechanisms applied to the traditional Bayer process, as well as the study of innovative processes that reduce or eliminate bauxite residue, such as the Pedersen process and AlSiCal technology. The work was developed within the framework of the European AlSiCal project, participated by the ECO2Lab research group.
The committee highlighted the scientific quality and industrial relevance of the research, as well as its contribution to advancing low-carbon and residue-free alumina production.
