ABOUT ME
Associate professor at the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering of the University of Zaragoza (Spain), and researcher at the Thermochemical Process Group (GPT) of the Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A) of the University of Zaragoza (Spain).
My research interests are in the fields of high temperature chemistry, chemical kinetic modeling, and formation and destruction of air pollutants (nitrogen oxides, sulfur compounds, …) in energetic and industrial processes/applications.
BIOGRAPHY
I graduated with a Master in Chemical Engineering from the University of Zaragoza (Spain) and in 2013 I got the degree of PhD in Chemical Engineering at the same university. As part of this investigation, in January-April 2011, I made a short term collaboration at the (Combustion Harmful Emission Control) CHEC group of the Technical University of Denmark. My research activities were related to hydrocarbon conversion in presence of different gaseous compounds that can be typically present in atmospheres with recycled flue gas (RFG), such as CO2, NOx or SO2, to provide of the necessary experimental data both to get
insight into the phenomena controlling the process and to improve and update a gas-phase combustion scheme in relation to different reaction environments.
In 2015- 2017 I worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Instituto de Carboquímica (ICB) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), with a research Grant funded by the Spanish Government.
During this time my research activities were focused on the development and optimization of oxygen carriers for the Chemical Looping Combustion process. In June-September 2016 I made a short term collaboration at the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DEM) of the Technical University of Lisbon (Portugal), to study the influence of the presence of metals on the combustion of biomass.
Since 2017, I am a researcher at the Thermochemical Process Group (GPT) of the Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A) of the University of Zaragoza (Spain), performing fundamental studies related to the formation and destruction of main pollutants in thermo-chemical processes.
PUBLICATIONS
2019
Colom-Díaz, Juan Manuel; Abián, María; Ballester, M Y; Millera, Ángela; Bilbao, Rafael; Alzueta, María U
H 2 S conversion in a tubular flow reactor: Experiments and kinetic modeling Journal Article
In: Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 727–734, 2019, ISSN: 15407489.
@article{Colom-Diaz2019e,
title = {H 2 S conversion in a tubular flow reactor: Experiments and kinetic modeling},
author = {Juan Manuel Colom-Díaz and María Abián and M Y Ballester and Ángela Millera and Rafael Bilbao and María U Alzueta},
doi = {10.1016/j.proci.2018.05.005},
issn = {15407489},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Proceedings of the Combustion Institute},
volume = {37},
number = {1},
pages = {727--734},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Marshall, Paul; Leung, Caroline; Giménez-López, Jorge; Rasmussen, Christian T; Hashemi, Hamid; Glarborg, Peter; Abián, María; Alzueta, María U
The C 2 H 2 + NO 2 reaction: Implications for high pressure oxidation of C 2 H 2 /NO x mixtures Journal Article
In: Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 469–476, 2019, ISSN: 15407489.
@article{Marshall2019,
title = {The C 2 H 2 + NO 2 reaction: Implications for high pressure oxidation of C 2 H 2 /NO x mixtures},
author = {Paul Marshall and Caroline Leung and Jorge Giménez-López and Christian T Rasmussen and Hamid Hashemi and Peter Glarborg and María Abián and María U Alzueta},
url = {www.sciencedirect.comwww.elsevier.com/locate/proci},
doi = {10.1016/j.proci.2018.06.202},
issn = {15407489},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Proceedings of the Combustion Institute},
volume = {37},
number = {1},
pages = {469--476},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {The reaction of C 2 H 2 with NO 2 has been studied theoretically. It is a complex overall reaction with multiple wells and multiple product channels. The calculated rate constant for the preferred channel, formation of a CHOCHON adduct, is compatible with the only experimental determination. The CHOCHON adduct is assumed to dissociate rapidly to form the triplet carbene CHCHO and NO. An experimental and kinetic modeling study of the interaction between C 2 H 2 , O 2 and NO x was performed under flow reactor conditions in the intermediate temperature range (600-900 K), high pressure (50-60 bar), and for stoichiometries ranging from reducing to strongly oxidizing. The results show that presence of NO x serves both to sensitize and inhibit oxidation of C 2 H 2. Calculations with a detailed chemical kinetic model, partly established in the present work, confirm that C 2 H 2 + NO 2 is the major initiation step, as well as the major sensitizing reaction. This reaction converts NO 2 to NO, which is then partly converted to HCN by reaction with C 2 H 3 and CHCHOH. The latter reactions are both chain terminating and serve as the major inhibiting steps.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2018
Abián, María; Martín, Cristina; Nogueras, Pablo; Sánchez-Valdepeñas, Jesús; Rodríguez-Fernández, José; Lapuerta, Magín; Alzueta, María U
Interaction of diesel engine soot with NO2 and O2 at diesel exhaust conditions. Effect of fuel and engine operation mode Journal Article
In: Fuel, vol. 212, pp. 455–461, 2018, ISSN: 00162361.
@article{Abian2018,
title = {Interaction of diesel engine soot with NO2 and O2 at diesel exhaust conditions. Effect of fuel and engine operation mode},
author = {María Abián and Cristina Martín and Pablo Nogueras and Jesús Sánchez-Valdepeñas and José Rodríguez-Fernández and Magín Lapuerta and María U Alzueta},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.10.025},
doi = {10.1016/j.fuel.2017.10.025},
issn = {00162361},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Fuel},
volume = {212},
pages = {455--461},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {This work shows a study of the reactivity of twelve different types of soot with either NO2 or O2 under reacting conditions typically present in diesel particulate filters (DPFs). The soot samples were obtained from the combustion of four conventional and alternative fuels (diesel, biodiesel and two paraffinic fuels) in a diesel engine bench operated under three different engine operation modes: a typical urban-driving mode and two variations to this mode to assess the effect of the injection settings. The main objective of the work is to relate the oxidative reactivity of the soot to the nature and the origin of each sample. The possible simultaneous elimination of soot and NOx at typical diesel exhaust conditions is examined, as well. The reactivity tests were performed in a laboratory quartz gas flow reactor, discontinuous for the solid. The soot-NO2 interaction was studied with 200 ppm of NO2 at 500 °C and the soot-O2 interaction was studied with 5% O2 at 500 °C and 600 °C. The experimental results were used to determine the time needed for the complete conversion of carbon ($tau$) through the use of the equations of the Shrinking Core Model for solid-gas reactions with decreasing size particle and chemical reaction control. In general, the $tau$ values show that the diesel fuel generates a less reactive soot than biodiesel or the alternative paraffinic fuels. In addition, increasing the injection pressure or adding a post-injection to the original injection strategy generates a more reactive soot. These findings point out that there is potential to achieve efficient regeneration processes in DPFs through other fuels than conventional ones and via engine calibration.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2017
Carvalho, A; Rabaçal, M; Costa, Mário; Alzueta, María U; Abián, María
Effects of potassium and calcium on the early stages of combustion of single biomass particles Journal Article
In: Fuel, vol. 209, pp. 787–794, 2017, ISSN: 00162361.
@article{Carvalho2017,
title = {Effects of potassium and calcium on the early stages of combustion of single biomass particles},
author = {A Carvalho and M Rabaçal and Mário Costa and María U Alzueta and María Abián},
doi = {10.1016/j.fuel.2017.08.045},
issn = {00162361},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-12-01},
journal = {Fuel},
volume = {209},
pages = {787--794},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {The main objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) on the early stages of combustion of single biomass particles. The biomass used was grape pomace, sieved in the size range of 200–250 µm. With the pre-treatments of demineralization and impregnation, a total of 12 different samples were obtained: raw grape pomace, demineralized grape pomace and impregnated grape pomace with 0.1, 0.5, 0.82, 3 and 6 wt% of K, and 0.1, 0.5, 1.08, 3 and 6 wt% of Ca. The tests were performed in an optical flat flame McKenna burner able to produce a confined laminar flow of combustion products, in which single particles were air-injected upward through a central hole. The equivalence ratio and the thermal input of the burner were adjusted to yield two operating conditions in the working zone: condition T1 with a mean temperature of 1575 K and a mean dry O2 concentration of 5.4 vol%, and condition T2 with a mean temperature of 1775 K and a mean dry O2 concentration of 5.2 vol%. A CMOS high-speed camera was used to record the early stages of the combustion process, particularly the ignition and the volatiles combustion events. The collected images were processed to calculate the ignition delay time and the volatiles combustion time. The results obtained showed that the demineralization pre-treatment used increased both the ignition delay time and the volatiles combustion time of the single biomass particles. The K impregnation pre-treatment led to a decrease in the ignition delay time as the concentration of K increased, while the Ca impregnation pre-treatment did not have a significant impact on the ignition delay time. Both impregnation pre-treatments decreased the volatiles combustion time as the concentration of K or Ca increased. Finally, the impregnation with K and Ca had a more significant impact on the volatiles combustion time than in the ignition delay time.},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abián, María; Alzueta, María U; Carvalho, A; Rabaçal, M; Costa, Mário
Role of Potassium and Calcium on the Combustion Characteristics of Biomass Obtained from Thermogravimetric Experiments Journal Article
In: Energy & Fuels, vol. 31, no. 11, pp. 12238–12246, 2017, ISSN: 0887-0624.
@article{Abian2017a,
title = {Role of Potassium and Calcium on the Combustion Characteristics of Biomass Obtained from Thermogravimetric Experiments},
author = {María Abián and María U Alzueta and A Carvalho and M Rabaçal and Mário Costa},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b02161},
doi = {10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b02161},
issn = {0887-0624},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-11-01},
journal = {Energy & Fuels},
volume = {31},
number = {11},
pages = {12238--12246},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
abstract = {This work focuses on the combustion behavior of raw and demineralized grape pomace and grape pomace doped with 0.1, 0.5, 0.82 (equal to the K concentration in the raw biomass), 3, and 6 wt % K and 0.1, 0.5, 1.08 (equal to the Ca concentration in the raw biomass), 3, and 6 wt % Ca. To identify the individual role of calcium and potassium, the biomass samples were either pyrolyzed in a N2 atmosphere or oxidized in air in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) during non-isothermal runs at 10 K/min from room temperature to a maximum temperature of 1275 K. In all of the cases, the biomass pyrolysis process shows one main stage associated with the volatile matter release. This process is not significantly affected by the mineral content of biomass nor the presence of high K and Ca contents. During combustion in air, the biomass samples show two main distinct stages that are associated with the volatile matter release and the char oxidation. Whereas the main devolatilization stage is not significantly affected by the mineral content of the biomass, the char oxidation stage is shifted to higher temperatures for the demineralized biomass. Potassium and calcium play a different role on the char oxidation process. In general, char oxidation is promoted with increasing the K content, whereas Ca does not significantly influences this process. The TGA results were also used to determine the kinetic parameters of the pyrolysis and combustion processes of biomass in the presence of K and Ca.},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}