Montserrat Iborra Urios has a degree in Chemical Sciences (Technical Chemistry Specialty) from the University of Barcelona (1979-1984). She obtained a doctorate in Chemical Sciences from the University of Barcelona in 1989. She is currently Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Barcelona where she teaches at the undergraduate level (Introduction to Chemical Engineering, Chemical Reactors, Multiphase Reactors and Experimentation in Chemical Engineering ). Since 2013 she has coordinated the Consolidated Teaching Innovation Group (University of Barcelona) of Chemical Reaction Engineering, participating as director or collaborator in 14 teaching improvement and innovation projects. It is also part of the consolidated research group of Catalysis and Applied Kinetics.
His preferred field of research is on topics related to technological development in the field of fuels, especially obtaining oxygenates. Thus, she focuses on solid acid catalysis (preferably ion exchange resins) and in catalytic and multiphase reactors. Among the reactions studied are the reactions for obtaining asymmetric branched ethers by adding light alcohols to branched olefins (MTBE, ETBE ...), dehydration of linear alcohols to symmetric linear ethers (DNPE, EOE ...). Also, the oligomerization of linear and branched C5-C8 olefins to compounds in the range of gasoline or diesel. The research has been carried out with applied orientation, looking for both the catalyst and the optimal reaction conditions and determining the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reactions. By-products have been minimized in working conditions, following the green chemistry guidelines. He has also investigated the 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, proposing a reaction mechanism and kinetic model; and simulation of non-isothermal non-adiabatic fixed bed multitubular reactors. She currently works on the production of oxygenated biofuels from biomass, i.e. butyl levulinates.
She has supervised 28 research works, including 4 Ph.D. Theses. He is co-author of 96 research papers (84 in international journals), 6 book chapters and 93 contributions to scientific congresses (83 international). He has also participated in 20 R&D competitive projects and 17 R&D contracts with several cjemical companies.
