Prof.

Ane Urtiaga

Full Professor
University of Cantabria
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Av. de los Castros s/n
39005 Santander
Cantabria
España

Telephone: +34 942 201587

Email : urtiaga@unican.es

RESEARCH TOPICS
The research is aimed to the development and integration of new separation
technologies based on selective liquid membranes, pervaporation, ultrafiltration,
reverse osmosis, membrane distillation and gas separation membranes. Applications
in the fields of metals recovery, separation of organic compounds, treatment and
purification of industrial effluents and landfill leachates, solvents dehydration, water
reuse and hydrogen recovery from gas mixtures have been developed. An important
part of the research is dedicated to the development of mathematical models that
describe the new processes, as well as the study of the factors influencing the scale-up.
The integration of advanced oxidation processes, electrooxidation, Fenton,
electrodisinfection, complement the separation capacity of membranes with the final
elimination of compounds that cannot be recovered, generating zero-discharge
processes.

PUBLICATIONS (5 years)
• Anglada, A:, Ibáñez, R., Urtiaga, A., Ortiz, I. Electrochemical oxidation of saline
industrial wastewaters using boron-doped diamond anodes, Catalysis Today,
151, 178-184, 2010.
• G. Pérez, P. Gómez, R. Ibáñez, I. Ortiz, A.M. Urtiaga, Electrochemical
disinfection of secondary wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, Wat. Sci.
& Technol, 892, 2010.
• G. Pérez, A. Fernández de Alba, A.M. Urtiaga, I. Ortiz , Electrooxidation of
reverse osmosis concentrates generated in tertiary water treatment, Water
Research, 44, 2763- 2772, 2010.
• Urtiaga, A., Bringas, E., Mediavilla, R., Ortiz, I., J. The role of liquid membranes
in the selective separation and recovery of zinc for the regeneration of Cr
(III) passivation baths, Membr. Sci., 356, 88-95, 2010.
• Dibán, A.M. Urtiaga, M.I. Ortiz, Zinc recovery and waste sludge minimization
from chromium passivation baths, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 192 (2):801-7,
2011.
• C. David, D. Gorri, I. Ortiz, A.M. Urtiaga, Dual-sorption model for H2/CO2 for
permeation in glassy polymeric Matrimid Membrane, Desal. Wat. Treat. 27,
31-36, 2011.
• O. Voinea, D. Gorri, I. Ortiz, A.M. Urtiaga, Mixed gas separation study for the
hydrogen recovery from H2/CO/N2/CO2 post combustion mixtures using a
Matrimid membrane, J. of Membr. Sci., 378, 359– 368, 2011.
• Anglada, A. Urtiaga, I. Ortiz, D. Mantzavinos, E. Diamadopoulos, Treatment of
 municipal landfill leachate by catalytic wet air oxidation: Assessment of the
role of operating parameters by factorial design, Waste Management 31, 1833–
1840, 2011.
• E. Bringas, R. Mediavilla, A.M. Urtiaga, I. Ortiz, Development and validation of a
dynamic model for regeneration of passivating baths using membrane
contactors, Comp. & Chem. Engng., 35, 918–927, 2011.
• V. Díaz, R. Ibañez, P. Gómez, A.M. Urtiaga, I. Ortiz, Kinetics of electro-
oxidation of ammonia-N, nitrites and COD from a recirculating aquaculture
saline water system using BDD anodes, Water Research 45, 125-134, 2011.
• Anglada. A. Urtiaga, A.M, Ortiz, I., Mantzavinos, E. Diamadopoulos, Boron-
doped diamond anodic treatment of landfill leachate: Evaluation of operating
variables and formation of oxidation by-products, Wat. Res., 45, 2, 828-838, 2011.
• Gutiérrez, R., Urtiaga, A., Ortiz, I., Separation of phenol and formaldehyde from
industrial wastes. Modelling of the phenol extraction equilibrium, JCTB, 85(9),
1215-1222, 2010.
• Anglada, A., D. Ortiz, A.M. Urtiaga, I. Ortiz, Electrochemical oxidation of landfill
leachates at pilot scale: evaluation of energy needs, Wat. Sci. & Technol. 61,
9, 2211-, 2010.
• Anglada. A., Urtiaga, A.M., I. Ortiz, Laboratory and pilot plant scale study on
the electrochemical oxidation of landfill leachate, J. Hazard. Mater. 181, 729-735
(2010.
• Diban, N., García, V., Alguacil, F., Ortiz, I., Urtiaga, A.M., Temperature
enhancement of zinc and iron separation from chromium (III) passivation baths
by emulsion pertraction technology, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
Research 51, pp. 9867-9874, 2012.
• V. Díaz, R. Ibáñez, P. Gómez, A.M. Urtiaga, I. Ortiz. Kinetics of nitrogen
compounds in a commercial marine Recirculating Aquaculture System,
Aquacultural Engineering, 50, 20-27, 2012.
• O. Voinea, G. Zarca, D. Gorri, I. Ortiz, A.M. Urtiaga, On the improved
absorption of carbon monoxide in the ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazoilum
chlorocuprate, Sep. and Pur. Tech., 97, 65-72, 2012.
• Pérez, G., Ibañez, R., Urtiaga, A:, Ortiz, I. Kinetic study of the simultaneous
electrochemical removal of aqueous nitrogen compounds using BDD
electrodes, Chemical Engineering Journal, 197, 475-482, 2012.
• Perez, G.; Saiz, J.; Ibañez, R. ; Urtiaga, A.M.; Ortiz, I. Assessment of the
formation of inorganic oxidation by-products during the electrocatalytic
treatment of ammonium from landfill leachates; Wat. Res., 46, 2579-2590, 2012.
• Pérez-González, A. Urtiaga; R. Ibáñez, I. Ortiz, State of the art and review on the
treatment technologies of water reverse osmosis concentrates, Wat. Res. 46,
267-283 (2012).
• David, O.C., Gorri, D., Urtiaga, A., Ortiz, I., “Hydrogen separation from
multicomponent gas mixtures containing CO, N2 and CO2 using Matrimid
asymmetric hollow fiber membranes”, Journal of Membrane Science, 419-420,
pp. 49-56, 2012.
• Bringas, E., San Román, M.F., Urtiaga, A.M., Ortiz, I. “Integrated use of liquid
membrane contactors: enhancing the efficiency of L-L reactive separations”,
Chemical Engineering Journal and Processing 67, 120-129, 2013.
• Diban, N., Urtiaga, A.M., Ortiz, I., Bilbao, J., Aguayo, A. Influence of the
membrane properties on the catalytic production of dimethyl ether with in situ
 water removal for the successful capture of CO2. Chemical Engineering Journal
234, 140-148, 2013.
• Dibán, N., Arruti, A., Barceló, A., Puxeu, M., Urtiaga, A., Ortiz, I. Membrane
dealcoholization of different wine varieties reducing aroma losses. Modelling
and experimental validation. Innovative Food Science and Emerging
Technologies 20, 259- 235, 2013.
• Diban, N., Aguayo, A., Bilbao, J., Urtiaga, A., Ortiz, I. Membrane reactors for in-
situ water removal: a review of applications. Industrial and Engineering
Chemistry Research 52, 10342-10354, 2013.
• Ibáñez, R., Pérez-González, A., Gómez, P., Urtiaga, A.M., Ortiz, I. Acid and base
recovery from softened reverse osmosis (RO) brines. Experimental assessment
using model concentrates, Desalination 309, 165-170. 2013.
• García, V., Steegh, W., Bouten, M., Ortiz, I., Urtiaga, A. Implementation of
an eco- innovative separation process for a cleaner chromium passivation in
the galvanic industry. Journal of Cleaner Production 59, 274-283, 2013.
• Ibáñez, R., Pérez, A., Gómez, P., Urtiaga, A.M., Ortiz, I. Acid and base recovery
from softened reverse osmosis (RO) brines. Experimental assessment using
model concentrates. Desalination 309, 165-170, 2013.
• Urtiaga, A.M., Pérez, G., Ibáñez, R., Ortiz, I. Removal of pharmaceuticals from
a WWTP secondary effluent by ultrafiltration / reverse osmosis followed by
electrochemical oxidation of the RO concentrate, Desalination 331, 26-34, 2013.
• Zarca, G., Ortiz, I., Urtiaga, A. Copper(I)-containing supported ionic liquid
membranes for carbon monoxide/nitrogen separation. Journal of Membrane
Science 438, 38-45, 2013.
• Diban, N., Ramos-Vivas, J., Remuzgo-Martínez, S., Ortiz, I., Urtiaga, A. Poly(ε-
caprolactone) films with favourable properties for neural cell growth. Current
Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 14, 2743-2749, 2014.
• Diban, M., Urtiaga, A., Ortiz, I., Ereña, J., Bilbao, J., Aguayo, A. Improved
performance of a PBM reactor for simultaneous CO2 capturea and DME
synthesis. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 53 (50), 19479-19487, 2014.
• Pérez-González, A., Ibáñez, R., Gómez, P., Urtiaga, A.M., Ortiz, I. Integration
of nanofiltration for the sustainable management of reverse osmosis brines.
Desalination and water treatment, article in press. DOI: 10.1080/
19443994.2014.973454. 2014.
• Urtiaga, A.M., Fernández-Castro, P., Gómez, P., Ortiz, I. Remediation of
wastewaters containing tetrahydrofuran. Study of the electrochemical
mineralization on BDD electrodes. Chemical Engineering Journal 239, 341-350,
2014.
• Zarca, G., Ortiz, I., Urtiaga, A. Kinetics of the carbon monoxide reactive uptake
by an imidazolium chlorocuprate (I) ionic liquid. Chemical Engineering Journal
252, 298-304, 2014.
• Zarca, G., Ortiz, I., Urtiaga, A. Facilitated-transport supported ionic liquid
membranes for the simultaneous recovery of hydrogen and carbon monoxide
from nitrogen-enriched gas mixtures. Chemical Engineering Research and
Design 92, 764-768, 2014.
• Laso, J., García, V., Bringas, E. Urtiaga, A.M., Ortiz, I. Selective recovery of zinc
over iron from spent pickling wastes by different membrane-based solvent
extraction process configurations. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
54, 3218-3224, 2015.
 • Pérez-González, A., Ibáñez, R., Gómez, P., Urtiaga, A.M., Ortiz, I. Nanofiltration
separation of polyvalent and monovalent anions in desalination brines. Journal
of Membrane Science 473, 16-27, 2015.
• Pérez-González, A., Ibáñez, R., Gómez, P., Urtiaga, A.M., Ortiz, I., Irabien, J.A.
Recovery of desalination brines resources. Separation of divalent ions as a
pretreatment step. Desalination and Water Treatment, 56, 3617-3625, 2015.
• Schaefer, C., Andaya, C., Urtiaga, A. Assessment of Disinfection and By-Product
Formation during Electrochemical Treatment of Surface Water using a Ti/IrO2
Anode. Chemical Engineering Journal 264, 411-416, 2015.
• Schaefer, C.E., Andaya, C., Urtiaga, A., McKenzie, E.R., Higgins, C.P.
Electrochemical treatment of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and
perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in groundwater impacted by aqueous film
forming foams (AFFFs). Journal of Hazardous Materials 295,170-175 , 2015.
• Urtiaga, A., Fernández, C., Gómez, S., Ortiz, I. Kinetics of the electrochemical
mineralization of perfluorooctanoic acid on nanocrystalline conductive
diamond electrodes. Chemosphere 129, 20-26, 2015
• Urtiaga, A., Gómez, P., Arruti, A., Ortiz,I. Electrochemical removal of
tetrahydrofuran from industrial wastewaters: anode selection and process
scale-up. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 89, 1243-1250,
2015.
• Zarca, G., Urtiaga, A., Ortiz, I., Cañizares, P., Rodrigo, M. Electrochemical
determination of copper mass transport properties in basic 1-hexyl-3-
methylimidazolium chlorocuprate(I) ionic liquid. Separation and Purification
Technology 141, 31-37, 2015.
• Zarca, G., Ortiz, I., Urtiaga, A. Recovery of carbon monoxide from flue gases by
reactive absorption in ionic liquid imidazolium chlorocuprate (I): Mass transfer
coefficients. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering 23, 769-774, 2015.
• Zarca, G., Ortiz, I., Urtiaga, A.M. Behaviour of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium
chloride supported ionic liquid membranes in the permeation of CO2, H2, CO
and N2 single and mixed gases. Desalination and Water Treatment 56, 3640-
3646, 2015.
• Zarca, G., Fernández, M., Santamaría A., Urtiaga, A., Ortiz, I. Non-Newtonian
ionic liquids in gas absorption: shear thinning viscosity of 1-hexyl-3-
methylimidazolium chloride and effect of CuCl addition. Separation and
Purification Technology 155, 96-100, 2015.

R&D PROJECTS

Title: Towards and Innovative Galvanic Industry (TIGI, 218390-2)

VII EU Framework programme
Duration, since 2008 to 2011
Main researcher: Ane Urtiaga

Title: Use of boron-doped diamond electrodes for treatment of perfluorinated compounds

(AFCEEBAA-11-002-69).
Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (EE.UU.).
Duration, since 2011 to 2013
Main researcher: Ane Urtiaga
Coordinator Shaw Environmental, Inc.
Participants: Colorado School of Mines; Universidad de Cantabria

Title: Use of Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes for Water Treatment (NESDI #487),
Navy's Environmental Sustainability Development to Integration program, U.S. Navy
(EE.UU.)
Duration, since 2013 to 2014
Main researcher: Ane Urtiaga
Coordinador: Shaw Environmental, Inc.
Participantes: Duke University; Universidad de Cantabria

Title: Investigating Electrocatalytic and Catalytic Approaches for in situ Treatment of

Perfluoroalkyl Contaminants in Groundwater (14 ER02-030 / ER-2424).
Coordinator: CB&I Federal Services.
Participanes: University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign, Duke University; Universidad de
Cantabria
Duration, since 2014 to 2016
Main researcher: Ane Urtiaga

Title: Desarrollo de Tecnologías Innovadoras para el tratamiento de contaminantes

perfluorados en aguas (CTM2013-44081-R).
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
Coordinator: Universidad de Cantabria.
Participants: Universidad del País Vasco; Centro Tecnológico de Componentes
Duration, since 2014 to 2017
Main researcher: Ane Urtiaga

Title: Desarrollo y caracterización de filmes multicapas extruidos en base polimérica

aplicando tratamiento de entrecruzamiento mediante radiación ionizante
Programa de ayudas para el desarrollo de doctorados industriales 2014, de la
Universidad de Cantabria
Company: Grupo Armando Alvarez,
PhD. Student: J.A. Alvarez Ballesteros.
Duration, since 2015 to 2017
Main researcher: Ane Urtiaga

Title: Nuevos nanomateriales funcionalizados basados en grafeno como soportes para

la regeneración de tejido nervioso.
Convocatoria Cantabria Explora del Parlamento de Cantabria y de la Universidad de
Cantabria.
Duration, since 2015 to 2017
Main researcher: Ane Urtiaga

PATENTS

UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA. 2013. Proceso de conversión de salmueras en ácidos y

bases y productos obtenidos. Inventor: Ortiz Uribe, I. [et al.] Solicitud: 18-07-2012. ESPAÑA,
patente de invención ES2388252A1, 21-06-2013.

UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA. Procedimiento integrado de electrooxidación fotovoltaica

para la depuración y reutilización de aguas residuales urbanas. Inventors: Meyer,
Garcia-Calvo, Urtiaga, Dominguez, Irabien. Nº de publicación: 2389202. Date of
publication: 30.08.2013. Entity: Sociedad General Aguas de Barcelona S.A.

OTHER RESULTS

• Supervision of 11 PhD. Thesis

• External recognition of the scientific activity (CNEAI) correspondent to the
periods: 1987-1992, 1993-1998, 1999-2004
• H index = 17
• Vice-Dean of the School of Engineering (ETSIIT), University of Cantabria, 1999-
2007.
• Coordinator of academic exchanges (Erasmus, Séneca, bilateral agreements)
1999-2008.
• Expertise in academic and scientific evaluation, participation in national and
International commitees: ANECA, ANEP, framework programme EU, Regional
governments, FECYT, etc.
• Member of the European Membrane Society and European Membrane House.