Senior Lecturer
- About
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- Email Address
- cfmartin@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 273264
- Office Address
University of Aberdeen
School of Engineering
Fraser Noble Building, Room 356
King’s College
Aberdeen, AB24 3UE
- School/Department
- School of Engineering
Biography
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Chemical Engineering (2022-present)
Previous Employment
2015-2022
2013-2014
Lecturer in Chemical Engineering (University of Aberdeen)
Research Fellow. School of Engineering (Chemical Engineering), Institute for Materials and Processes, The University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom).
EPSRC Project: Feasibility of a wetting layer absorption carbon capture process based on chemical solvents (EP/J019720/1).
2011-2012
Research Associate, INCAR-CSIC (Spain)
Researcher at the “Energy Processes and Emission Reduction Group”, Department of Coal, Energy and Environment, at the National Institute of Coal, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (INCAR-CSIC).
2007-2011
Pre-doctoral Fellow, INCAR-CSIC (Spain)
Funded by the highly competitive Spanish Research Funding Body studentship ‘JAE-Pre’ pre-doctoral Grant. PhD topic: CO2 Capture “Energy Processes and Emission Reduction Group”, Department of Coal, Energy and Environment. National Institute of Coal, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (INCAR-CSIC).
Available PhD positions in my research group.
Send me an email if interested
Qualifications
- PhD Chemical Engineering2011 - University of Oviedo
2007-2011: Microporous adsorbents from organic polymers. Application in pre-combustion carbon capture processes. Grade achieved: Summa Cum Laude. Department of Energy, University of Oviedo (Spain).
- MSc Research in Technology, Diversification, Quality and Energy Saving (Quality Accredited)2009 - University of Oviedo
Development of adsorbents from phenolic resins for pre-combustion carbon capture (June 2009). Achieved Grade: Distinction. Department of Energy, University of Oviedo (Spain)
- MEng Environmental Sciences2005 - University of Granada
Classification: first class
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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Coordinator of Level 5, School of Engineering
Coordinator of the Environmental & Biodiversity Theme, School of Engineering
Champion of the Circular Economy Theme at the Centre for Energy Transition, University of Aberdeen
- External Memberships
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Deputy Champion in Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage CCS, University of Aberdeen: 2020-presnet
Academic Member of the UKCCSRC (UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre): 2013-present
General Secretary of AMPERE (Association for Microwave Power in Europe for Research and Education): 2021-present
Member of the SPEERI (Scottish Partnership in Energy and Engineering Research & Innovation): Infrastructure and Environment Theme: 2022-present
Latest Publications
Plastic valorisation into added-value products via microwave and conventional pyrolysis: a review
ACS Environmental AuContributions to Journals: Review articlesMelamine-doped plastic-derived adsorbents for carbon capture: the influence of plastic type on textural properties and CO2 uptake
Journal of CO2 Utilization, vol. 102, 103262Contributions to Journals: ArticlesRoadmap for enhanced CO2 transfer hydrogenation with bio-derived glycerol over Ni-zeolite catalysts: Influence of zeolite structure and Si/Al ratio
Journal of CO2 Utilization, vol. 101, 103199Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSession TS11b –Biomass and Waste Processing Chaired by Dr Claudia Fernandez-Martin & Prof Isabelle Polaert
Contributions to Conferences: Oral PresentationsMicrowave Heating as an Energy-Efficient Route for Waste Valorisation and Carbon Capture: Invited Keynote
Contributions to Conferences: Oral Presentations
Prizes and Awards
Honour/distinction
Date awarded
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE)
29/05/2020
Santander Mobility Award
Aug 2017
ETP-PECRE Award
Feb 2017
Santander Mobility Award
April 2016
PhD Scholarship ‘JAE-PreDoc’ funded by the Spanish Research Council (CSIC)
2007-2011
One of the highest scores obtained for the Degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering (2000-2005). Degree awarded with Honours (high academic distinction: 1st Class)
2000-2005
- Research
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Research Overview
My research interests are focused on the following topics:
Recycling of polymeric waste via microwave-assisted pathways to value. I investigate the recycling of mixed plastic waste through microwave-assisted conversion of real-world polymeric waste streams into value-added chemicals and functional materials. A key focus of my work is the synthesis of porous carbon materials for environmental applications, including carbon capture.
Materials and gas separation processes by means of adsorption for carbon capture. This research includes the synthesis of advanced and novel materials for post- and pre-combustion CO₂ capture, such as organic polymers, carbon-based adsorbents, low-cost biomass-derived adsorbents, amine-impregnated silica- and carbon-based adsorbents, as well as polymeric and hybrid membranes.
My expertise extends to the rigorous:
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Characterization of solids: textural and chemical characterization, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and elemental analysis (CHNS/O), among others.
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Enhancement of CO₂ recovery in carbon capture processes through the development of novel and energy-efficient regeneration technologies. This includes experimental studies using a purpose-built, bench-scale microwave-integrated adsorption column.
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Design and construction of lab-scale experimental setups for dynamic carbon capture testing.
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Engineering.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.

Current Research
- Intensification of carbon capture processes (CCS) using advanced regeneration technologies assisted with microwaves
- Materials for gas separation: greener and intensified synthesis of advanced sorbents for gas separation, specifically CO2 capture and separation/purification of methane from mixed gas streams.
- Plastic waste recycling: microwave-assisted pathways for the conversion of real plastic waste streams into porous carbons and hydrogen (H2).
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Next projects will expand on microwave-assisted catalytic processes for the generation of value from various wastes streams.
Knowledge Exchange
Elected General Secretary of AMPERE (see pages 4 and 5 in this newsletter to get a sense of the research we do in our School)
Supervision
My current supervision areas are: Engineering.
Available PhD positions in my research group. Send me an email if interested
Previous PGR students supervised to completion:
Dr Mohamud Yassin (Lead supervisor)
Dr Simbarashe Biti (Lead supervisor)
Dr Serena Simonetti (Co-supervisor)
Dr Emmanuel Dan (Lead supervisor)
Dr Nicola Rouse (Co-supervisor)
Dr Mohammad Mohammad Bello (Co-supervisor)
Supervisees
- MR MUHAMMAD MUHAMMAD
- MISS FATIMA MUKHTAR
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- Teaching
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Programmes
- Postgraduate, 3 semester, January start
- Postgraduate, 3 semester, September start
- Postgraduate, 3 year, January start
- Undergraduate, 5 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 5 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 5 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 5 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 4 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 4 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 4 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 4 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 4 year, September start
Teaching Responsibilities
I am a consolidated Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I teach the following courses:
Undergraduate:
- Environmental Engineering (EA4027): sole contributor & coordinator
- Air & Water Pollution Control (EX501U): on campus: sole contributor & coordinator
- BEng Individual Project (EG45PC/EG45PD)
- MEng Individual Project (EG445PE/EG45PF)
- BEng Group Design Project (EG4578)
- MEng Group Design (EG5565), AY2018-2022
Postgraduate:
- Air & Water Pollution Control (EX501A) online: sole contributor & coordinator
- MSc Individual Project (EG555N, EG59F1, EG59F2, EG59M2) in:
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Advanced Chemical Engineering
- Process Safety
- Petroleum Engineering (past)
- Oil & Gas Chemistry (past)
- Publications
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Page 4 of 4 Results 76 to 86 of 86
Regeneration strategies of solid sorbents for CO2 capture cyclic processes
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsDevelopment of low-cost biomass-based adsorbents for postcombustion CO2 capture
Fuel, vol. 88, no. 12, pp. 2442-2447Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2009.02.025
Different approaches for the development of low-cost CO2 adsorbents
Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 135, no. 6, pp. 426-432Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000009
Ammonia-modified biomass-based carbons as CO2 Adsorbents
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsCarbon adsorbents for post-combustion CO2 capture
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsFlue-gas CO2 capture on activated carbons produced from biomass wastes
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsMicroporous adsorbents from phenol formaldehyde resins for precombustion CO2 capture
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsMicroporous resin adsorbents for pre-combustion CO2 capture
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsPressurised gasification of coal and biomass for the production of H2-rich gas
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsRelationship between textural properties and CO2 capture capacity of phenolic resin-derived activated carbons
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference ProceedingsProduction of carbon adsorbents for pre-combustion CO2 capture
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings