Javier Tejero holds a Degree in Chemistry (1972-1977), and a Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences (1986) from the University of Barcelona. He is currently Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Barcelona where he teaches in Catalysis, Control and Design of Chemical Reactors, and Bioreactors. He has been Head of studies of the Degree in Chemical Engineering (2004-2012) and is currently Coordinator of the Master in Chemical Engineering since 2013. He has coordinated the Chemical Reaction Engineering Teaching Innovation group of this university (2008-2013).
He is a member of the consolidated research group 'Catalysis and Applied Kinetics' (Generalitat de Catalunya) since 2006, which he coordinates since January 2014. His research interests are focused, since its inception, on solid acid catalysis and catalytic reactor engineering. He has worked extensively in reactions of obtaining products for gasoline and diesel reformulation (reducing the environmental impact of fuels by evaporation and combustion) catalyzed by acidic ion exchange resins. The reactions for obtaining oxygenates by adding alcohols to branched olefins giving branched asymmetric ethers (MTBE, ETBE, ETAE,...) and dehydration of linear alcohols to give symmetric and asymmetric linear ethers (DNPE, EOE,...) stand out. Also, the oligomerization of linear and branched C5, C6 and C8 olefins, giving products in the range of gasoline or diesel. He has carried out applied research optimizing the catalysts and reaction conditions, and often kinetic and thermodynamic studies have been carried out. In accordance with the principles of green chemistry, minimization of by-products is essential. Regarding catalysis by acidic ion exchange resins, his research is focused on the study of the relationship between the morphology of these solids in liquid medium and their catalytic activity. He currently works on the production of oxygenated biofuels from biomass, i.e. butyl levulinates.
Likewise, he has carried out research on the following topics: reduction of SO2 emissions in thermal power plants by injection of Ca(OH)2 and water, including the effect of operating variables and the presence of CO2, NO2 and O2, finishing in the proposal of a reaction mechanism and kinetic model; preparation, characterization and modeling of NaA zeolite membranes for use in membrane reactors as well as the simulation; separation of N2 from the air by selective adsorption on natural zeolites; and development of multitubular fixed bed reactors, non-adiabatic and isothermal by using simulation techniques.
He has supervised 57 research works, including 4 Ph.D. Theses. He is co-author of 115 research papers (93 in international journals), 6 book chapters and 123 contributions to scientific congresses (100 international). He has also participated in 26 R&D competitive projects and 20 R&D contracts with several chemical companies.
